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Manchester United’s hunt for trophies is over inside the second week of January after a ruthless Brighton took advantage of yet another loose defensive performance. This FA Cup third-round knockout means the 13-times winners have been dumped from the competition and the League Cup at the first opportunity for a first time since 1981-82.
By the end of May United’s season will stand at a total of 40 games – their lowest number in a complete campaign since 1914-15. If August’s Carabao Cup penalty shootout elimination at Grimsby was dire, this disappointment was as concerningly insipid, goals from Brajan Gruda and Danny Welbeck, one in each half, (probably) ending Darren Fletcher’s record as the interim manager as winless – this defeat following Wednesday’s draw at Burnley in the Premier League.
Benjamin Sesko steered in an 85th-minute header but United failed to grab the lifeline despite Old Trafford roaring them on. Instead, during the five minutes of added time Shea Lacey received a second yellow and marching orders from Simon Hooper for dissent, the referee having previously booked the 18-year-old substitute for a late tackle. The youngster wandered off appearing in tears: an unfortunate yet apt microcosm of a 2025-26 that is in tatters for United.
On Monday the club are expected to announce who will become the second interim, to replace Fletcher, who took over after Ruben Amorim’s sacking last week. Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Michael Carrick have been interviewed for the role.
Whoever is appointed now has only a Champions League berth to aim for – United are in seventh on 32 points, three behind Liverpool in the fourth place that guarantees qualification. But after this latest blow, who knows if any form of European football will be secured.
