2016–17 Manchester United F.C. season

The 2016–17 season was Manchester United's 25th season in the Premier League, and their 42nd consecutive season in the top-flight of English football. Following the departure of Louis van Gaal at the end of the previous season, the club signed former Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid manager José Mourinho on a three-year contract, with the option of a further year.

Manchester United
2016–17 season
Manchester United team for the Europa League game against Rostov, 9 March 2017
Co-chairmenJoel and Avram Glazer
ManagerJosé Mourinho
StadiumOld Trafford
Premier League6th
FA CupQuarter-finals
EFL CupWinners
UEFA Europa LeagueWinners
Community ShieldWinners
Top goalscorerLeague: Zlatan Ibrahimović (17)
All: Zlatan Ibrahimović (28)
Highest home attendance75,397
(vs. West Bromwich Albion,
1 April)
Lowest home attendance58,179
(vs. Zorya Luhansk,
29 September)
Average home league attendance75,290

As winners of the previous season's FA Cup, they faced Premier League winners Leicester City in the 2016 FA Community Shield, with United prevailing 2–1 to win the first trophy of the domestic calendar.[1] On 26 February 2017, the club won their second trophy of the campaign, beating Southampton 3–2 in the EFL Cup Final.[2] Although they missed out on qualifying for the 2017–18 UEFA Champions League via league position, having finished in sixth place, they qualified as Europa League winners, beating Ajax 2–0 in the Europa League Final on 24 May 2017.[3] That triumph also made United the fifth team to have won all three main European club trophies.

Pre-season and friendlies

United preceded their 2016–17 campaign with a friendly against Wigan, a tour of China,[4] a friendly in Sweden facing Turkish club Galatasaray in the 2016 SuperGame, and Wayne Rooney's testimonial match between Manchester United and Everton at Old Trafford.[5] The season concluded with Michael Carrick's testimonial on 4 June between United players of the 2008 European Double-winning side (plus Dimitar Berbatov, who joined the club during the following transfer window, and Michael's brother, Graeme Carrick) and an all-star team picked by Carrick, both teams respectively managed by Sir Alex Ferguson and Harry Redknapp, Carrick's first manager as a professional footballer.[6][7]

DateOpponentsH / AResult
F–A
ScorersAttendance
16 July 2016Wigan AthleticA2–0Keane 49', Pereira 58'13,314[8]
22 July 2016Borussia DortmundN1–4Mkhitaryan 59'38,285
25 July 2016Manchester CityNMatch cancelled due to inadequate playing conditions
30 July 2016GalatasarayN5–2Ibrahimović 4', Rooney (2) 55', 58' (pen.), Fellaini 62', Mata 74'30,200
3 August 2016EvertonH0–058,597[9]
4 June 2017Michael Carrick XIH2–2Vidić 28', Carrick 82'70,027

FA Community Shield

As a result of winning the 2015–16 FA Cup, Manchester United faced Leicester City, who won the 2015–16 Premier League, in their 30th FA Community Shield appearance. Manchester United won the match to claim their 21st Community Shield (including four shared titles).[10]

DateOpponentsH / AResult
F–A
ScorersAttendance
7 August 2016Leicester CityN2–1Lingard 32', Ibrahimović 83'85,437

Premier League

The Premier League season kicked off on 13 August and concluded on 21 May.[11] United went undefeated for a season-record 25 matches between October and May, although 12 of them were draws.

DateOpponentsH / AResult
F–A
ScorersAttendanceLeague
position
14 August 2016BournemouthA3–1Mata 40', Rooney 59', Ibrahimović 64'11,3551st
19 August 2016SouthamptonH2–0Ibrahimović (2) 36', 52' (pen.)75,3261st
27 August 2016Hull CityA1–0Rashford 90+2'24,5602nd
10 September 2016Manchester CityH1–2Ibrahimović 42'75,2723rd
18 September 2016WatfordA1–3Rashford 62'21,1187th
24 September 2016Leicester CityH4–1Smalling 22', Mata 37', Rashford 40', Pogba 42'75,2566th
2 October 2016Stoke CityH1–1Martial 69'75,2516th
17 October 2016LiverpoolA0–052,7697th
23 October 2016ChelseaA0–441,4247th
29 October 2016BurnleyH0–075,3258th
6 November 2016Swansea CityA3–1Pogba 15', Ibrahimović (2) 21', 33'20,9386th
19 November 2016ArsenalH1–1Mata 68'75,2646th
27 November 2016West Ham UnitedH1–1Ibrahimović 21'75,3146th
4 December 2016EvertonA1–1Ibrahimović 42'39,5506th
11 December 2016Tottenham HotspurH1–0Mkhitaryan 29'75,2716th
14 December 2016Crystal PalaceA2–1Pogba 45+2', Ibrahimović 88'25,5476th
17 December 2016West Bromwich AlbionA2–0Ibrahimović (2) 5', 56'26,3086th
26 December 2016SunderlandH3–1Blind 39', Ibrahimović 82', Mkhitaryan 86'75,3256th
31 December 2016MiddlesbroughH2–1Martial 85', Pogba 86'75,3146th
2 January 2017West Ham UnitedA2–0Mata 63', Ibrahimović 78'56,9966th
15 January 2017LiverpoolH1–1Ibrahimović 84'75,2766th
21 January 2017Stoke CityA1–1Rooney 90+4'27,4236th
1 February 2017Hull CityH0–075,2976th
5 February 2017Leicester CityA3–0Mkhitaryan 42', Ibrahimović 44', Mata 49'32,0726th
11 February 2017WatfordH2–0Mata 32', Martial 60'75,3016th
4 March 2017BournemouthH1–1Rojo 23'75,2456th
19 March 2017MiddlesbroughA3–1Fellaini 30', Lingard 62', Valencia 90+3'32,6895th
1 April 2017West Bromwich AlbionH0–075,3975th
4 April 2017EvertonH1–1Ibrahimović 90+4' (pen.)75,2726th
9 April 2017SunderlandA3–0Ibrahimović 30', Mkhitaryan 46', Rashford 89'43,7795th
16 April 2017ChelseaH2–0Rashford 7', Herrera 49'75,2725th
23 April 2017BurnleyA2–0Martial 21', Rooney 39'21,8705th
27 April 2017Manchester CityA0–054,1765th
30 April 2017Swansea CityH1–1Rooney 45+3' (pen.)75,2715th
7 May 2017ArsenalA0–260,0555th
14 May 2017Tottenham HotspurA1–2Rooney 71'31,8486th
17 May 2017SouthamptonA0–031,4256th
21 May 2017Crystal PalaceH2–0Harrop 15', Pogba 19'75,2546th
PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
4Liverpool38221067842+3676Qualification for the Champions League play-off round
5Arsenal3823697744+3375Qualification for the Europa League group stage[a]
6Manchester United38181555429+2569Qualification for the Champions League group stage[b]
7Everton381710116244+1861Qualification for the Europa League third qualifying round[c]
8Southampton381210164148−746
Source: Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Play-offs (only if needed to decide champion, teams for relegation or teams for UEFA competitions).[12][13]
Notes:

FA Cup

Manchester United entered the FA Cup in the third round with the other Premier League clubs, as well as those from the Championship. The third round draw was made on 5 December and it drew United with a home tie against Championship side Reading, managed by Jaap Stam, who returned to Old Trafford for the first time since leaving United in 2001 after a three-year spell.[14] United cruised to a 4–0 victory on 7 January with first-half goals from Wayne Rooney – who equalled Bobby Charlton's 249-goal record for the club in the process, Anthony Martial and a second-half brace from Marcus Rashford. League One champions Wigan Athletic, managed by Warren Joyce who left his Manchester United Under-23 coaching role in November to join Wigan, were drawn as United's fourth round opponents on 9 January for another home tie.[15] United beat the Latics 4–0 and were subsequently drawn away to Championship side Blackburn Rovers in the fifth round. United came from behind to secure a 2–1 victory, thanks to goals from Marcus Rashford and substitute Zlatan Ibrahimović. In the quarter-finals, United were drawn away to Premier League rivals Chelsea. In a fiercely contested game, Ander Herrera was sent off and N'Golo Kanté scored the winning goal to end Manchester United's defence of the FA Cup.

DateRoundOpponentsH / AResult
F–A
ScorersAttendance
7 January 2017Round 3ReadingH4–0Rooney 7', Martial 15', Rashford (2) 75', 79'74,396
29 January 2017Round 4Wigan AthleticH4–0Fellaini 44', Smalling 57', Mkhitaryan 74', Schweinsteiger 81'75,229
19 February 2017Round 5Blackburn RoversA2–1Rashford 27', Ibrahimović 75'23,130
13 March 2017Quarter-finalsChelseaA0–140,801

EFL Cup

As one of seven English clubs who qualified for European competition in the 2015–16 season, United received a bye to the third round of the EFL Cup, the draw for which took place on 24 August 2016. United were drawn away against Northampton Town. The match was played 21 September 2016 and Manchester United won 3–1; Michael Carrick opened the scoring in the 17th minute, but Northampton's Alex Revell equalised from the penalty spot shortly before half-time. However, goals from Ander Herrera and Marcus Rashford midway through the second half secured the win for United. The draw for the fourth round took place shortly after the match and United were drawn at home against rivals Manchester City. The game was played on 26 October 2016 with the Reds winning 1–0 via Juan Mata's goal in the 54th minute.

Manchester United were again drawn at home in the fifth round, this time against West Ham, and United cruised to a 4–1 win, with two goals each for Zlatan Ibrahimović and Anthony Martial. Former Manchester United youth player Ashley Fletcher scored the only goal for the Hammers in the 35th minute. The draw for the semi–finals saw United paired with Hull City. The first leg was played at Old Trafford on 10 January 2017, with Mata and substitute Marouane Fellaini giving United a 2–0 win. Two weeks later, United lost the second leg at the KCOM Stadium 2–1 but progressed to the final 3–2 on aggregate.

Their opponents in the final, played on 26 February, were Southampton, who had beaten Liverpool in the semi-finals. Ibrahimović and Lingard gave United a 2–0 lead, only for Manolo Gabbiadini to level the scores with a goal on either side of the half-time break; however, Ibrahimović scored in the 87th minute to give United a 3–2 victory.

DateRoundOpponentsH / AResult
F–A
ScorersAttendance
21 September 2016Round 3Northampton TownA3–1Carrick 17', Herrera 68', Rashford 75'7,798
26 October 2016Round 4Manchester CityH1–0Mata 54'74,196
30 November 2016Round 5West Ham UnitedH4–1Ibrahimović (2) 2', 90+3', Martial (2) 48', 62'65,269
10 January 2017Semi-finals
First leg
Hull CityH2–0Mata 56', Fellaini 87'65,798
26 January 2017Semi-finals
Second leg
Hull CityA1–2Pogba 66'16,831
26 February 2017FinalSouthamptonN3–2Ibrahimović (2) 19', 87', Lingard 38'85,264

UEFA Europa League

Group stage

As FA Cup winners, United entered the Europa League at the group stage. The draw took place on 26 August 2016 and saw United paired with Turkish league runners-up Fenerbahçe, Dutch cup winners Feyenoord and the fourth-placed team from the Ukrainian league, Zorya Luhansk. They had met Fenerbahçe in Europe twice before (1996–97 and 2004–05) and Feyenoord once before (1997–98). The fixture schedule saw United first head to the Netherlands to play Feyenoord on 15 September, then a home game against Zorya Luhansk two weeks later, followed by a double-header against Fenerbahçe, first at home then away. The programme then closed with the return games against Feyenoord and Zorya Luhansk. Due to the war in Donbass, the away game against Zorya Luhansk was played at Chornomorets Stadium in Odesa.

DateOpponentsH / AResult
F–A
ScorersAttendanceGroup
position
15 September 2016FeyenoordA0–131,0004th
29 September 2016Zorya LuhanskH1–0Ibrahimović 69'58,1793rd
20 October 2016FenerbahçeH4–1Pogba (2) 31' (pen.), 45+2', Martial 34' (pen.), Lingard 48'73,0632nd
3 November 2016FenerbahçeA1–2Rooney 89'35,3783rd
24 November 2016FeyenoordH4–0Rooney 35', Mata 69', Jones 75' (o.g.), Lingard 90+2'64,6282nd
8 December 2016Zorya LuhanskA2–0Mkhitaryan 48', Ibrahimović 88'25,9002nd

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 Fenerbahçe641186+213Advance to knockout phase
2 Manchester United6402124+812
3 Feyenoord621337−47
4 Zorya Luhansk602428−62
Source: UEFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers

Knockout phase

Manchester United players before the game against Rostov

The draw for the round of 32 was made on 12 December, with Manchester United drawn against French side Saint-Étienne, who finished top of group C. The tie saw Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba come up against his elder brother, Florentin, who plays as a defender for the French side. Manchester United's only previous meeting with Saint-Étienne came in the first round of the 1977–78 European Cup Winners' Cup; the second leg was played at Home Park in Plymouth after Manchester United were banned from playing within 200 kilometres (120 mi) of Old Trafford, following crowd trouble at the first leg in Saint-Étienne.[16] The home tie saw Zlatan Ibrahimović score his maiden hat-trick for the club, while a goal from Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the second leg was enough to send United through. In the round of 16, United played Russian side Rostov, winning 2–1 on aggregate. United were drawn against Belgian side Anderlecht in the quarter-finals where Mkhitaryan scored in his fourth consecutive European away game. In the return leg, an extra-time strike from Marcus Rashford sent United into the semi-finals, 3–2 on aggregate. A Rashford strike against semi-final opponents Celta Vigo gave United a first win in Spain since 2010. A 1–1 draw in the return leg secured United's progress 2–1 on aggregate. United faced Dutch side Ajax in the final, with goals from Pogba and Mkhitaryan in either half leading them to victory for their first ever Europa League crown. With this victory, they became only the fifth club to have won all three major European trophies (European Champion Clubs' Cup/UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup/Europa League, and the now defunct UEFA Cup Winners' Cup).[17] This win also qualified them as the fifth English team in the following season's Champions League.

DateRoundOpponentsH / AResult
F–A
ScorersAttendance
16 February 2017Round of 32
First leg
Saint-ÉtienneH3–0Ibrahimović (3) 15', 75', 88' (pen.)67,192
22 February 2017Round of 32
Second leg
Saint-ÉtienneA1–0Mkhitaryan 16'41,492
9 March 2017Round of 16
First leg
RostovA1–1Mkhitaryan 35'14,223
16 March 2017Round of 16
Second leg
RostovH1–0Mata 70'64,361
13 April 2017Quarter-finals
First leg
AnderlechtA1–1Mkhitaryan 36'20,000
20 April 2017Quarter-finals
Second leg
AnderlechtH2–1
(a.e.t.)
Mkhitaryan 10', Rashford 107'71,496
4 May 2017Semi-finals
First leg
Celta VigoA1–0Rashford 67'26,202
11 May 2017Semi-finals
Second leg
Celta VigoH1–1Fellaini 17'75,138
24 May 2017FinalAjaxN2–0Pogba 18', Mkhitaryan 48'46,961

Squad statistics

No.Pos.NameLeagueFA CupLeague CupEuropeOtherTotalDiscipline
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1GK David de Gea3501050301045020
3DF Eric Bailly24(1)000101101037(1)072
4DF Phil Jones1801(1)030300025(1)030
5DF Marcos Rojo18(3)140508(2)00(1)035(6)150
6MF Paul Pogba29(1)51(1)0411530049(2)9100
7FW Memphis Depay0(4)000100(3)0001(7)010
8MF Juan Mata19(6)62(1)0329(1)20(1)032(9)1050
9FW Zlatan Ibrahimović27(1)170(1)14(1)49(2)51141(4)2880
10FW Wayne Rooney (c)15(10)5213(1)04(3)21025(14)890
11FW Anthony Martial18(7)4312(1)24(6)11028(14)830
12DF Chris Smalling13(5)141408(2)00029(7)200
14MF Jesse Lingard18(7)11(1)02(2)16(4)21128(14)560
15MF Adnan Januzaj00000000000000
16MF Michael Carrick (vc)18(5)0204(1)15(2)01030(8)110
17DF Daley Blind21(3)1102(1)010(1)01035(5)140
18MF Ashley Young8(4)030103(4)00015(8)050
19FW Marcus Rashford16(16)5333(3)18(3)20(1)030(23)1130
20GK Sergio Romero2030101200018000
21MF Ander Herrera27(4)12(1)061900(1)044(6)2132
22MF Henrikh Mkhitaryan14(9)4312010(1)60(1)029(11)1140
23DF Luke Shaw9(2)01020401017(2)010
24DF Timothy Fosu-Mensah1(3)01(1)0101(3)0004(7)010
25MF Antonio Valencia28(1)110308(1)01041(2)170
27MF Marouane Fellaini18(10)12(1)10(5)17(3)11028(19)491
28MF Morgan Schneiderlin0(3)0001(1)0200(1)03(5)010
31MF Bastian Schweinsteiger001(1)10(1)00(1)0001(3)100
32GK Sam Johnstone00000000000000
34GK Dean Henderson00000000000000
35DF Demetri Mitchell10000000001000
36DF Matteo Darmian15(3)02020700026(3)030
38DF Axel Tuanzebe400(1)00000004(1)000
39MF Scott McTominay1(1)0000000001(1)010
40GK Joel Castro Pereira100(1)00000001(1)000
42MF Matty Willock00000000000000
43DF Cameron Borthwick-Jackson00000000000000
44MF Andreas Pereira00000000000000
45GK Kieran O'Hara00000000000000
46FW Josh Harrop11000000001100
47MF Angel Gomes0(1)0000000000(1)000
48FW Zak Dearnley00000000000000
Own goals000101

Statistics accurate as of 24 May 2017.[18]

Transfers

In

DatePos.NameFromFee
6 June 2016DF Eric Bailly VillarrealUndisclosed[nb 1]
1 July 2016FW Zlatan Ibrahimović Paris Saint-GermainFree[20]
6 July 2016MF Henrikh Mkhitaryan Borussia DortmundUndisclosed[nb 2]
9 August 2016MF Paul Pogba Juventus£89m[22][23]

Out

DatePos.NameToFee
10 June 2016GK George DorringtonReleased[nb 3][25]
10 June 2016GK Víctor ValdésReleased[nb 4][27]
10 June 2016MF Nick PowellReleased[nb 5][27]
10 June 2016MF Oliver RathboneReleased[nb 6][25]
12 July 2016DF Tyler Reid Swansea CityUndisclosed[30]
12 July 2016MF Joe Rothwell Oxford UnitedFree[31]
12 July 2016FW Ashley Fletcher West Ham UnitedFree[32]
13 July 2016DF Jimmy Dunne BurnleyFree[33]
13 July 2016GK Oliver Byrne Cardiff CityFree[34]
11 August 2016DF Paddy McNair Sunderland£5.5m[35]
11 August 2016DF Donald Love Sunderland
22 August 2016DF Tyler Blackett ReadingUndisclosed[36]
30 August 2016FW Will Keane Hull CityUndisclosed[37]
31 August 2016MF James Weir Hull CityUndisclosed[38]
12 January 2017MF Morgan Schneiderlin Everton£24m[39]
20 January 2017FW Memphis Depay Lyon£13.8m[40][41]
28 January 2017MF Sean Goss Queens Park RangersUndisclosed[nb 7][43]
2 February 2017DF Sadiq El Fitouri ChesterfieldFree[44]
29 March 2017MF Bastian Schweinsteiger Chicago FireFree[45][46]

Loan out

Date fromDate toPos.NameTo
23 July 201630 June 2017DF Guillermo Varela Eintracht Frankfurt[47]
12 August 201630 June 2017MF Adnan Januzaj Sunderland[48]
20 August 20162 February 2017FW James Wilson Derby County[49][50]
22 August 201630 June 2017DF Cameron Borthwick-Jackson Wolverhampton Wanderers[51]
26 August 201630 June 2017MF Andreas Pereira Granada[52]
31 August 20163 February 2017GK Dean Henderson Grimsby Town[53][54][55][56]
31 August 20165 January 2017GK Joel Castro Pereira Belenenses[57]
5 January 201730 June 2017GK Sam Johnstone Aston Villa[58]
17 January 201730 June 2017DF Joe Riley Sheffield United[59]

Notes

References