Man Utd needs a victory in round 38 to maintain hope of participating in the European Cup. If they finish the season in the top 7, the “Red Devils” will definitely attend the Europa League or Europa Conference League. Coach Erik ten Hag and his team won 3 points. However, that was not enough for them to escape 8th place on the rankings.
This is the worst ranking in Man Utd’s history in the Premier League. Previously, the home team at Old Trafford has only had a lower score than this season (60 points).
In the final match of the Premier League season, Man Utd defeated Brighton 2-0. The important difference for the “Red Devils” in this match is the return of Lisandro Martinez. The Argentine midfielder helped Man Utd regulate their play smoothly from home, not allowing Brighton to steal the ball and organize a quick counter-attack.
Man Utd’s problem is the lack of decisiveness on the right wing. Defender Valentin Barco had a chance to rush past Sofyan Amrabat and Aaron Wan-bissaka to shoot the ball into the near corner. Fortunately for the away team, goalkeeper Andre Onana played focused.
Right when they started to lose the game to Brighton, Man Utd players suddenly had a situation of organizing the ball very quickly in the middle area. In the 26th minute, Bruno Fernandes’s pass found Scott McTominay, before the Scottish midfielder finished into the stands. This is also the most dangerous opportunity for the “Red Devils” in the first half.
Entering the second half, Man Utd’s attack improved after Rasmus Hojlund came on to replace Bruno Fernandes. Having a real striker on the field helps Man Utd stretch the distance between Brighton’s defenders and midfielders.
From there, space gradually appeared in the area in front of the home team’s penalty area, creating an opportunity for Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho to break through and score from far away.
In the 73rd minute, Rasmus Hojlund shined with a skillful cover situation, allowing Scott McTominay to escape and face the goalkeeper. This time, the Scottish midfielder’s shot beat Brighton’s goalkeeper, opening the score for the away team.
In the 87th minute, Hojlund broke through into the middle area, passed 3 Brighton players before scoring dangerously with his non-dominant foot, increasing the score to 2-0.
However, this victory only serves as a morale booster. In terms of achievements, 3 points is not enough to help Man Utd improve its rankings. Newcastle defeated Bournemouth 4-2 in the match at the same time and ranked above Man Utd (equal points, more sub-stats).
Not only did they reach the worst mark in history, Man Utd also faced the risk of not being able to participate in the European Cup. The only way for the “Red Devils” to participate in the continental arena is to defeat Man City in the FA Cup final.