Manchester United’s Early Struggles: A Look at the Post-Ferguson Era

Alex Ferguson, Oxford 2-0 Manchester United, 8 Nov 1986

Alex Ferguson faced Oxford United just two days after leaving Aberdeen. He selected a team including Paul McGrath and Jesper Olsen. The match resulted in a loss, with John Aldridge scoring a penalty in the 16th minute and Neil Slatter adding another goal in the 89th minute. Ferguson noted the pressure from media attention affected the players. This match was Ferguson’s first with Manchester United, and he would later become the club’s greatest manager.

David Moyes, Swansea 1-4 Manchester United, 17 Aug 2013

David Moyes led Manchester United after they won the Community Shield. They started the season strong with a 4-1 victory over Swansea, featuring two goals from Robin van Persie and two from Danny Welbeck. Rio Ferdinand expressed optimism about the season ahead. However, the team struggled, finishing seventh in the league, which led to Moyes being sacked after 34 matches.

Louis van Gaal, Manchester United 1-2 Swansea, 16 Aug 2014

Louis van Gaal’s first match as Manchester United manager resulted in a 2-1 loss to Swansea. Wayne Rooney equalized in the second half, but Gylfi Sigurdsson scored again for Swansea, sealing United’s defeat. Van Gaal faced a challenging start to the season, which included a heavy loss in the League Cup. He later won the FA Cup but was dismissed two years later.

José Mourinho, Bournemouth 1-3 Manchester United, 14 Aug 2016

José Mourinho opened his Manchester United tenure with a 3-1 win against Bournemouth. Key players included Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The team maintained good form early in the season and added the League Cup and Europa League to their trophy haul. However, a poor run in 2018 led to criticism and Mourinho’s departure.

Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Manchester United 2-1 Watford, 30 Mar 2019

Ole Gunnar Solskjær became Manchester United’s permanent manager after a successful interim period. He secured a 2-1 victory over Watford, with goals from Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial. Despite an initial strong performance, the team struggled later that season, finishing sixth. Solskjær had two better seasons afterward but was ultimately dismissed in November 2021.

Erik ten Hag, Manchester United 1-2 Brighton, 7 Aug 2022

Erik ten Hag’s first match as Manchester United manager ended in a 2-1 loss to Brighton. He employed Christian Eriksen in an unconventional role. The team’s performance raised concerns about their style of play. Although Ten Hag’s tenure included a League Cup win, it faced challenges. He left the club on 28 October, before Ruben Amorim’s appointment.