Manchester United's Season isn't Over Yet

MANCHESTER, SUNDAY - Manchester United's season seems to have ended prematurely after being eliminated from the FA Cup. They have lost all potential trophies midway through the season. Nevertheless, amid the low expectations, "The Red Devils" can now focus on preparing for the transition to the next season while striving to finish as strongly as possible.

The presence of interim coach Darren Fletcher, following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim, did not have a significant impact on MU. They were defeated by Brighton and Hove Albion 1-2 in the third round of the FA Cup at their home ground, Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, on Sunday (11/1/2026).

The problems of MU remain unchanged, as seen during the eras of Amorim and Erik Ten Hag, namely a lack of discipline in defense. The home team fell behind by two goals first due to the actions of Brajan Gruda and Danny Welbeck. In both goals, the coordination between the center backs and the midfielders was not optimal.

MU attempted to recover after striker Benjamin Sesko's goal, assisted by Bruno Fernandes, in the 85th minute. As the momentum began to shift, 18-year-old substitute Shea Lacey received a red card. He naively threw the ball in frustration at the referee's decision, having already received a yellow card.

Lacey may be naive, but at least he was the most spartan player since being brought on in the 62nd minute. The MU squad had lost energy after conceding the second goal shortly after halftime. "The red card was detrimental because we were controlling the game towards the end," said wing-back Diogo Dalot, who squandered a golden opportunity at the start of the match.

MU has repeated a dismal story in the English League Cup, losing in the first match against Grimsby Town. For the first time since 1981-82, "The Red Devils" have been eliminated in the opening matches of both the FA Cup and the League Cup in the same season. This record highlights just how poor their season has been.

Fernandes and his teammates will only compete in one tournament, the English League, in the second half of the season. They are nearly impossible to win the championship with their current seventh-place position, 17 points behind the league leaders Arsenal. The most realistic target for them is to finish in the top four. Meanwhile, MU is not participating in European competitions this season.

Fletcher stated that the main issue in the MU squad right now is confidence. "I think you can see that the players are fragile, but they need to respond to that. Confidence is one of the most important things in football, so when you don't have it, you have to work hard, and then that confidence will return," he said.

The MU players are in a difficult situation. They have invested time and effort in studying the three-center-back system of Amorim over the past year. However, as the system began to take shape, Amorim was dismissed last week. MU is also experiencing a downward trend as they are left without their coach.

Under Fletcher, in the last two matches, MU implemented a 4-2-3-1 formation. Their play has indeed become more offensive with this formation, especially with Sesko receiving more support from the second line. However, their defense has actually worsened. The transition from a five-man defense to a four-man defense has not gone smoothly.

The vulnerability of MU's defense was evident throughout the match. Their backline was led by the central defensive duo of Lenny Yoro and Lisandro Martinez. Both players appeared to be out of position during the goals scored by Gruda and Welbeck. The presence of defensive midfielder Manuel Ugarte further disrupted the home team's defensive structure.

Throughout the Amorim era, MU has only played with a four-defender formation once. That occurred in the match against Newcastle United at the end of December 2025. "It is very difficult. This is a period where we must find ways to resolve issues very quickly. We need to adapt and keep moving forward," said Dalot.

Amidst this uncertainty, Manchester United's management must make a crucial decision. They need to quickly determine their plans for the remaining half of the season and next season. Previously, according to The Athletic, they would only appoint a permanent manager in the summer.