Manchester United‘s progress under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is more tangible than ever, with the club having achieved consecutive top four finishes for the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson retired almost eight years ago. West Ham United’s Sunday afternoon defeat to Everton made it impossible for the Red Devils to fall outside of the Champions League qualification places, although it would have taken an enormous swing in goal difference for the Hammers to surpass United even if they had beaten Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Manchester United Achieve Consecutive Top Four Finishes
Largely Successful Season
United have, by and large, been very good over the course of the season.
They got off to a rocky start, with three losses and a draw in their opening six Premier League matches, but Solskjaer’s side have rebounded superbly, suffering just one defeat since the beginning of November.
This campaign has also been the source of many happy memories for their fans, including a 6-2 victory over bitter rivals Leeds United in their first league meeting for over 14 years, a 9-0 thumping of Southampton, and a resounding 2-0 victory over a Manchester City side who, until that fixture, had won all of their league games for almost three months.
Missed Opportunities
Despite having achieved back-to-back top four finishes for the first time since Ferguson’s retirement, United fans will rue their missed opportunities over the course of the season.
Matches like their 2-1 home loss to bottom of the table Sheffield United ruined the Red Devils’ chance to mount a title challenge this campaign, with rivals Manchester City’s crowning as Premier League champions imminent.
Virtually all United fans would have taken a second-place finish should it have been offered to them at the start of the season, but they will now focus on what could have been, and the glory they could have achieved had it not been for moments of defensive lapse and wasteful finishing.
Solskjaer the First Manager to Achieve Consecutive Top Four Finishes at Old Trafford Since Ferguson
Before Solskjaer, no manager since arguably the greatest there ever was, Sir Alex Ferguson, had been able to finish in the top four consecutively.
David Moyes’ first and only season as United boss culminated in a seventh-place finish, the Red Devils’ worst in the Premier League era.
Louis van Gaal was able to qualify for the Champions League domestically during his first campaign in Manchester, but his second saw United miss out on goal difference. The Dutchman was subsequently sacked.
Jose Mourinho achieved back-to-back Champions League qualifications, however his first came through winning the Europa League, rather than a top four finish.
Solskjaer has already achieved consecutive top four finishes in his first two full seasons in charge, and may be yet to reach the zenith of this campaign, with a Europa League final coming up on 26 May.
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