# 2010–11 Manchester United F.C. season
The 2010–11 [Manchester United F.C.](https://www.edgepedia.org/manchester-united-f-c) season was the club's 19th consecutive Premier League campaign, in which the team, managed by Sir Alex Ferguson, won a record 19th English league title and reached the [UEFA Champions League](https://www.edgepedia.org/uefa-champions-league) final, losing 3-1 to [FC Barcelona](https://www.edgepedia.org/fc-barcelona) at Wembley.[1](https://www.manutd.com/en/club/history/history-by-decade/2010-onwards) • [2](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0250-0c50f3a82b36-4e60a564966f-1000--2010-11-barcelona-back-on-top-of-europe-s-elite/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Premier League finish | 1st of 20: played 38, won 23, drawn 11, lost 4, goals 78 for and 37 against, goal difference +41, 80 points[3](https://www.premierleague.com/en/tables/premier-league/2010-11/all-matchweeks) |
| League title | A record 19th domestic league championship, reclaiming the title from Chelsea[1](https://www.manutd.com/en/club/history/history-by-decade/2010-onwards) |
| Champions League final | Lost 3-1 to Barcelona at Wembley on 28 May 2011; Pedro Rodríguez 27, Wayne Rooney 34, Lionel Messi 54, David Villa 69[2](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0250-0c50f3a82b36-4e60a564966f-1000--2010-11-barcelona-back-on-top-of-europe-s-elite/) |
| New signings | Javier Hernández and Chris Smalling, described by the club as low-key captures of promising youngsters[1](https://www.manutd.com/en/club/history/history-by-decade/2010-onwards) |
| Leading scorers (all competitions) | Dimitar Berbatov 21 goals in 42 appearances; Javier Hernández 20 in 45; Wayne Rooney 16 in 40; Nani 10 in 49[4](https://www.mufcinfo.com/manupag/squads/squads_by_season.html?season=2010-2011) |
| Goalkeeper change | Edwin van der Sar's last season at the club[1](https://www.manutd.com/en/club/history/history-by-decade/2010-onwards) |
## League campaign
Both Manchester clubs began the season intent on bringing the Premier League trophy back to the North-West, and United's squad was bolstered by the summer additions of [Javier Hernández](https://www.edgepedia.org/javier-hernandez) and [Chris Smalling](https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-smalling). Though largely unknown quantities, the two quickly gelled with the existing squad.[1](https://www.manutd.com/en/club/history/history-by-decade/2010-onwards)
The title was won with 80 points from 38 matches, at 2.11 points per game, finishing first in the Premier League.[3](https://www.premierleague.com/en/tables/premier-league/2010-11/all-matchweeks) • [5](https://fbref.com/en/squads/19538871/2010-2011/Manchester-United-Stats) The club's own account describes the season as more of a squad success than the previous campaign, which had been powered by [Wayne Rooney](https://www.edgepedia.org/wayne-rooney)'s prolific scoring: contributions ran from goalkeeper [Edwin van der Sar](https://www.edgepedia.org/edwin-van-der-sar), in his final season at the club, through the long-serving [Ryan Giggs](https://www.edgepedia.org/ryan-giggs) and Paul Scholes, to a revitalised Rooney, as Chelsea were dethroned.[1](https://www.manutd.com/en/club/history/history-by-decade/2010-onwards)
A remarkable home record was the cornerstone of the success, while the club's away form in the league was largely unconvincing.[1](https://www.manutd.com/en/club/history/history-by-decade/2010-onwards) [Individual](https://www.edgepedia.org/individual) scoring across all competitions was spread widely: [Dimitar Berbatov](https://www.edgepedia.org/dimitar-berbatov) scored 21 goals in 42 appearances and Javier Hernández 20 in 45, with Rooney on 16 in 40 and Nani 10 in 49.[4](https://www.mufcinfo.com/manupag/squads/squads_by_season.html?season=2010-2011) In the [FA Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/fa-cup), United beat Liverpool 1-0 at Old Trafford in the third round on 9 January 2011.[6](https://www.11v11.com/teams/manchester-united/tab/matches/season/2011/)
## Champions League run
In Europe it was United's away form that stood out, helping to propel the team into another Champions League final against Barcelona, this time at Wembley.[1](https://www.manutd.com/en/club/history/history-by-decade/2010-onwards) In the knockout rounds United won both legs of a quarter-final rematch of the 2008 final against Chelsea, then beat Schalke's conquerors' path rivals with a 2-0 away win and a 4-1 second-leg triumph in the semi-final.[2](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0250-0c50f3a82b36-4e60a564966f-1000--2010-11-barcelona-back-on-top-of-europe-s-elite/)
The final, played at Wembley on 28 May 2011, ended FC Barcelona 3-1 Manchester United. Pedro Rodríguez opened in the 27th minute, Rooney equalised within seven minutes with a curled finish after a one-two involving [Michael Carrick](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-carrick) and Ryan Giggs, and second-half goals from [Lionel Messi](https://www.edgepedia.org/lionel-messi) and [David Villa](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-villa) settled the match. It was Barcelona's fourth European title, one more than United's, and their third UEFA Champions League in six seasons under Josep Guardiola.[7](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0250-0c50f8161545-f1d22c5e52ca-1000--barcelona-crowned-as-messi-and-villa-see-off-united/) For United it was a second final defeat by Barcelona in three years, after the 2009 final in Rome.[1](https://www.manutd.com/en/club/history/history-by-decade/2010-onwards) • [2](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0250-0c50f3a82b36-4e60a564966f-1000--2010-11-barcelona-back-on-top-of-europe-s-elite/)
## The final in numbers
Barcelona's control of the final was reflected in possession and passing: Guardiola's side enjoyed 69 percent possession and completed 777 passes, more than twice United's total.[8](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/competition/unplayable-barcelona-jose-mourinhos-cult-heroes-and-real-madrids-dynasty-the-20-greatest-champions-league-teams-ever-ranked) Messi's goal, his first on English soil, was his 12th of the competition, matching [Ruud van Nistelrooy](https://www.edgepedia.org/ruud-van-nistelrooy)'s mark for a single UEFA Champions League season set in 2002/03.[7](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0250-0c50f8161545-f1d22c5e52ca-1000--barcelona-crowned-as-messi-and-villa-see-off-united/) • [2](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0250-0c50f3a82b36-4e60a564966f-1000--2010-11-barcelona-back-on-top-of-europe-s-elite/) FourFourTwo later ranked the 2010-11 United side 10th among English Champions League teams, noting that but for an imperious Barcelona, United's best post-Cristiano Ronaldo campaign might have ended with the trophy.[9](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/ranked-the-10-best-english-sides-ever-in-the-champions-league)
## Significance
The 19th title moved United past Liverpool's record of 18 top-flight championships; Ferguson said after the 2011 triumph that it was more important for United to be the best team in the country in terms of winning titles.[10](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21878651) The season was also a squad transition point: van der Sar retired after it, and the following summer Ferguson signed David De Gea, Phil Jones, and Ashley Young as the club pushed for a 20th title.[1](https://www.manutd.com/en/club/history/history-by-decade/2010-onwards)
## References
1. [2010 Onwards, History by Decade, Manchester United FC](https://www.manutd.com/en/club/history/history-by-decade/2010-onwards)
2. [2010/11: Barcelona back on top of Europe's elite, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0250-0c50f3a82b36-4e60a564966f-1000--2010-11-barcelona-back-on-top-of-europe-s-elite/)
3. [Premier League Table, Standings & Form Guide for 2010/11 season](https://www.premierleague.com/en/tables/premier-league/2010-11/all-matchweeks)
4. [Manchester United Squad 2010-2011, MUFCInfo.com](https://www.mufcinfo.com/manupag/squads/squads_by_season.html?season=2010-2011)
5. [2010-2011 Manchester United Stats, FBref.com](https://fbref.com/en/squads/19538871/2010-2011/Manchester-United-Stats)
6. [Manchester United match record: 2011, 11v11.com](https://www.11v11.com/teams/manchester-united/tab/matches/season/2011/)
7. [Barcelona crowned as Messi and Villa see off United, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0250-0c50f8161545-f1d22c5e52ca-1000--barcelona-crowned-as-messi-and-villa-see-off-united/)
8. [The 20 greatest Champions League teams ever, FourFourTwo](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/competition/unplayable-barcelona-jose-mourinhos-cult-heroes-and-real-madrids-dynasty-the-20-greatest-champions-league-teams-ever-ranked)
9. [Ranked! The 10 best English sides EVER in the Champions League, FourFourTwo](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/ranked-the-10-best-english-sides-ever-in-the-champions-league)
10. [Golden years: The tale of Manchester United's 20 titles, BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21878651)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football competitions and records › Seasons and editions › Club seasons › English Premier League club seasons › 2010s club seasons*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license