Manchester United’s demoralising end to the season continued with a damaging 2-0 derby defeat by Manchester City on Wednesday evening.
Here, we take a look at how new manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s hugely positive start of just one defeat in 17 games has unravelled alarmingly in the nine fixtures since.
March 10: Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United
Granit Xhaka’s long-range strike and a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang penalty ended Solskjaer’s unbeaten league start at the Emirates Stadium as the Gunners leapfrogged United into the top four.
March 16: Wolves 2-1 Manchester United
Second-half goals from Raul Jimenez and Diogo Jota meant it was Wolves and not misfiring United who progressed to the FA Cup semi-finals with Marcus Rashford’s late strike providing scant consolation.
March 30: Manchester United 2-1 Watford
Two days after being appointed as manager on a permanent basis, Solskjaer watched his side labour to victory over Watford as goals from Rashford and Anthony Martial proved decisive despite Abdoulaye Doucoure’s late effort.
- Without De Gea on form United are miles off the top
- Sterling beating Pogba in the air during United 0-2 City
- Sanchez touched the ball once vs City
April 2: Wolves 2-1 Manchester United
United slipped to their second defeat at Molineux inside 17 days when Scott McTominay’s opener was cancelled out by Jota and then overhauled by Chris Smalling’s own goal after Ashley Young had been sent off.
April 10: Manchester United 0-1 Barcelona
Luke Shaw’s own goal left his side with a mountain to climb in their Champions League quarter-final with Barcelona after a tight encounter at Old Trafford.
April 13: Manchester United 2-1 West Ham United
Two Paul Pogba penalties, the second of them with just 10 minutes remaining, secured an unconvincing win over the Hammers, for whom Felipe Anderson had earlier levelled.
April 16: Barcelona 3-0 Manchester United
A bloodied Lionel Messi killed off any hope of a comeback at the Nou Camp with two goals before the break to set the stage for Philippe Coutinho to complete the damage with a wonder-strike.
April 21: Everton 4-0 Manchester United
United’s plight deepened in spectacular style when they succumbed to first-half goals from Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson before Lucas Digne and Theo Walcott heaped on the humiliation after the break.
April 24: Manchester United 0-2 Manchester City
Despite looking composed and organised during the first half at a rain-soaked Old Trafford, United’s defence was breached by Bernardo Silva after the break and Leroy Sane was soon on target, too.