Man Utd in 2024. It was a mess. Then it was a miracle. Then it was... well, another mess. If you look back at the Manchester United schedule 2024, you aren't just looking at a list of dates and kick-off times; you’re looking at the diary of a club that basically lived three different lifetimes in the span of twelve months.
Honestly, the year started with everyone wondering if Erik ten Hag would even make it to February. It ended with a completely different guy, Ruben Amorim, trying to figure out why the defense keeps falling asleep during corners.
The Winter of Discontent and that Wembley Miracle
The first half of the year was part of the 2023-24 season. It was grim. United had already crashed out of Europe and the Carabao Cup by the time 2024 rolled around. The focus was entirely on the FA Cup and trying (unsuccessfully) to finish in a decent Premier League spot.
January was quiet, mostly because the team didn't play much. They beat Wigan and Newport County—games they should win, though the 4-2 victory over Newport was way more stressful than it had any right to be. By the time we hit the spring, the Manchester United schedule 2024 was dominated by one thing: the FA Cup run.
The quarter-final against Liverpool on March 17 was arguably the game of the season. 4-3. Amad Diallo scoring in the 121st minute and getting sent off for taking his shirt off. That’s the kind of chaos United fans live for. But then, typical United, they almost blew the semi-final against Coventry City in April. They were 3-0 up and ended up winning on penalties.
The May 25 Turning Point
Everything led to May 25. The FA Cup Final against Manchester City.
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No one gave United a chance. Literally no one. But goals from the kids—Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo—secured a -2-1 win. It was a tactical masterclass that probably saved Ten Hag’s job for another six months. United finished 8th in the league, their lowest ever, but they had a trophy.
A Summer of Fake Hope
Then came the pre-season. The club went to the US. They played Arsenal in LA (lost 2-1), beat Real Betis in San Diego (3-2), and got thumped by Liverpool in South Carolina (3-0). These friendlies are mostly about selling shirts and fitness, but the Leny Yoro injury in the US tour was a sign of things to come.
The 2024-25 campaign officially kicked off with the Community Shield on August 10. They lost to City on penalties after a 1-1 draw. It felt like progress, but it was a bit of a mirage.
The Grinding Reality of the 2024-25 Season
When the real Manchester United schedule 2024 resumed in August, the wheels fell off pretty quickly. They beat Fulham 1-0 on the opening night thanks to a late Joshua Zirkzee goal. Everyone thought, "Okay, maybe we're solid now."
We weren't.
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- August 24: A 2-1 loss to Brighton. Classic United—conceding late.
- September 1: A 3-0 dismantling by Liverpool at Old Trafford. This was the day the vibe shifted.
- September 29: Another 3-0 home loss, this time to Spurs. Bruno Fernandes got sent off. It felt like the end.
The club was stuck in this weird loop of drawing games they should win. A 0-0 at Crystal Palace, a 3-3 at Porto where they blew a two-goal lead, and a 1-1 at Fenerbahce.
The October Axe
The final straw for Ten Hag wasn't a big derby loss. It was a 2-1 defeat at West Ham on October 27. A controversial late penalty for a foul by Matthijs de Ligt sealed it. By the time the November international break rolled around, Ruud van Nistelrooy was the interim boss. He actually did great—three wins and a draw—before Ruben Amorim took the wheel on November 11.
The Amorim Era Begins
Amorim’s first game was a scrappy 1-1 draw against Ipswich on November 24. You could see the system changing—three at the back, wing-backs, a lot more running. But the Manchester United schedule 2024 didn't get any easier for the new guy.
December was a gauntlet. They actually beat Man City 2-1 at the Etihad on December 15. Absolute madness. Bruno scored a penalty and Amad Diallo got a 90th-minute winner. But then, they'd turn around and lose 3-0 to Bournemouth at home a week later. Consistency? Never heard of her.
The year ended with a 2-0 loss to Newcastle on December 30. United sat around 14th or 15th in the table. Not exactly the "New Era" fans were hoping for by New Year's Eve.
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What Most People Miss About the Schedule
People look at the results and see a "bad year." It was. But the volume of games was the real killer. Between the Europa League's new format and the domestic cups, United played almost every three days for months.
The 2024-25 Europa League campaign was particularly weird. They drew their first three games (Twente, Porto, Fenerbahce) before finally beating PAOK 2-0 in November. The schedule felt relentless, and the squad just wasn't deep enough to handle the injuries to guys like Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, who basically spent the whole year in the treatment room.
Key Takeaways from the 2024 Schedule
If you're looking back at how this year shaped the club, keep these points in mind:
- Home form was a myth. Losing 3-0 to Liverpool, 3-0 to Spurs, and 3-0 to Bournemouth at Old Trafford in a single calendar year is unprecedented.
- The "Amad" Factor. Amad Diallo went from a benchwarmer to arguably the most important player by December. His goals against Liverpool (March) and City (December) were the highlights of the year.
- The Transition is Real. The move from Ten Hag's "transitional" football to Amorim's 3-4-3 is a massive shift. Don't expect the schedule to look pretty in early 2025 while they learn how to play this way.
The best thing you can do now is track the tactical shifts in the upcoming games. Watch the wing-backs. In Amorim's system, if the wing-backs (like Dalot or Mazraoui) aren't firing, the whole thing collapses. Also, keep an eye on the injury returns; the 2024 schedule proved that without a fit left-back, United's buildup play is basically non-existent.