Manchester United have etched their name into the club’s history books for all the wrong reasons following their disappointing exit from the FA Cup in the third round. The defeat not only ended their hopes in England’s most prestigious domestic competition but also saw the club break two unwanted records that had stood for several decades.
On Sunday night, Darren Fletcher’s side were eliminated at the first stage of the FA Cup, falling 2–1 to Brighton. The result was made even more painful for United supporters by the involvement of former Red Devil Danny Welbeck, who scored once and provided an assist to knock his old club out of the competition. Brighton were widely regarded as the better team on the night, exposing United’s ongoing struggles under their interim setup.
This FA Cup exit followed another early cup disappointment earlier in the season. At the start of the campaign, United were knocked out of the Carabao Cup at their first opportunity as well, losing on penalties to League Two side Grimsby Town. As a result, United have now been eliminated from both domestic cup competitions at the earliest possible stage in the same season, a scenario that has not occurred since the 1981–82 campaign, 44 years ago. According to Opta statistics, this marks a rare and deeply troubling low point for a club historically known for competing on multiple fronts.
The situation is further compounded by United’s absence from European competition this season. With no continental fixtures and no remaining cup ties, the Premier League is now the club’s only focus. Currently sitting seventh in the league table, United face the prospect of an unusually short and underwhelming campaign. In total, they are set to play just 40 matches across all competitions this season.
That figure represents another unwanted milestone. Excluding seasons disrupted by wartime, this will be Manchester United’s lowest number of matches in a single campaign since the 1914–15 season, when they played just 39 games. In modern football, where top clubs regularly exceed 50 matches per season due to domestic and European commitments, this statistic underlines just how far United have fallen from their former standards. Had they progressed deeper in the cup competitions, they could have played as many as 51 matches.
The gravity of the situation was symbolized by the presence of legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford during the defeat to Brighton. Sitting alongside club icons Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt, Ferguson was visibly dismayed as he watched the team he once transformed into a global powerhouse struggle to compete. His reaction mirrored the feelings of many supporters who have grown accustomed to disappointment in the post-Ferguson era.
United are now searching for their seventh permanent manager since Ferguson retired 13 years ago, with each appointment ultimately ending in dismissal as the club continues its pursuit of past glories. Ruben Amorim was the latest casualty, having been sacked last week after just 14 months in charge. Fletcher was handed interim responsibility, but early signs have not been encouraging. A 2–2 draw with Burnley followed by the loss to Brighton has done little to strengthen his case for retaining the role on a permanent basis.
It is increasingly believed that the interim position will instead be offered to either Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or Michael Carrick, with the board aiming to appoint a long-term manager in the summer. The uncertainty surrounding leadership only adds to the sense of instability at Old Trafford.
The turmoil has also reignited debate about Ferguson’s continued influence at the club. Former United captain Roy Keane recently described Ferguson’s presence as “like a bad smell,” questioning why familiar figures remain involved in decision-making processes. Keane suggested that repeated managerial failures point to deeper issues behind the scenes. These comments came shortly after Fletcher revealed he had sought Ferguson’s approval before accepting the interim role.