# 2021–22 Manchester United F.C. season
The 2021–22 [Manchester United F.C.](https://www.edgepedia.org/manchester-united-f-c) season was the club's 2021/22 Premier League and European campaign, in which United finished sixth in the Premier League with 58 points, their lowest total in the competition's history, and were eliminated by [Atlético Madrid](https://www.edgepedia.org/atletico-madrid) in the Champions League round of 16.[1](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/12/Tottenham-Hotspur/season-history) • [2](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12621119/manchester-uniteds-five-years-of-failure-examined-how-and-why-the-trophies-stopped-and-key-factors-explored) The season saw three men take charge of the first team: [Ole Gunnar Solskjær](https://www.edgepedia.org/ole-gunnar-solskj-r), dismissed in November; Michael Carrick, caretaker for three matches; and Ralf Rangnick, interim manager until the end of the season.[1](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/12/Tottenham-Hotspur/season-history)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Premier League finish | 6th; 38 played, 16 won, 10 drawn, 12 lost, goal difference 0, 58 points[1](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/12/Tottenham-Hotspur/season-history) |
| Managers | Ole Gunnar Solskjær, then Michael Carrick (caretaker), then Ralf Rangnick (interim)[1](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/12/Tottenham-Hotspur/season-history) |
| Top scorer / most appearances | Cristiano Ronaldo (18 league goals); David de Gea (38 appearances)[1](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/12/Tottenham-Hotspur/season-history) |
| Champions League | Won the group; lost the round of 16 to Atlético Madrid 1–2 on aggregate[3](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0273-14ac82730bcf-fc75ed5d483a-1000--manchester-united-0-1-atletico-agg-1-2-renan-lodi-sinks-/) |
| Biggest win / heaviest defeat | 5–1 v Leeds United (home); 0–5 v Liverpool (home)[1](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/12/Tottenham-Hotspur/season-history) |
| Records | Lowest Premier League points total (58); six consecutive away league defeats for the first time since March 1981; 57 goals conceded, the club's worst defensive performance[2](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12621119/manchester-uniteds-five-years-of-failure-examined-how-and-why-the-trophies-stopped-and-key-factors-explored) |
| Finances | Net loss of £115.5m for 2021–22, with revenue up 18% to £583.2m[4](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62992818) |
## Squad and expectations
United entered the campaign as Premier League runners-up, having finished 12 points behind champions Manchester City in 2020/21 and lost the Europa League final to [Villarreal](https://www.edgepedia.org/villarreal) on penalties.[5](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54826343) The summer brought the signings of [Jadon Sancho](https://www.edgepedia.org/jadon-sancho) and Raphael Varane, followed by the return of [Cristiano Ronaldo](https://www.edgepedia.org/cristiano-ronaldo) in a surprise transfer from Juventus after 12 years away; Ronaldo marked his second debut with two goals in a 4–1 home win over Newcastle United that sent United top of the table.[6](https://www.manutd.com/en/club/history/history-by-decade/2010-onwards) • [7](https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/2634049) United, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, and West Ham United all earned seven points from their opening three league matches.[7](https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/2634049)
## Solskjær's dismissal and the interim managers
**Solskjær's departure.** After surviving a 5–0 home defeat by Liverpool on 24 October and a 2–0 loss to Manchester City on 6 November, Solskjær was dismissed following a 4–1 defeat at Watford, with the club seventh in the Premier League after a fourth defeat in five league games.[8](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59364799) • [5](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54826343) • [9](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59424305)
**Carrick's caretaker spell.** [Michael Carrick](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-carrick), who had stayed on among the coaching staff, took the team as caretaker and achieved two wins and a draw in his three games before announcing his departure when Rangnick was appointed.[6](https://www.manutd.com/en/club/history/history-by-decade/2010-onwards)
**Rangnick's interim charge.** [Ralf Rangnick](https://www.edgepedia.org/ralf-rangnick) was appointed interim manager until the end of the season, subject to work visa requirements, with a consultancy role for two further years to follow; the existing coaches remained in place alongside a small number of his own staff.[10](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59439956) • [9](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59424305)
## Champions League
United won their Champions League group, qualifying for the knockout stage as group winners.[11](https://as.com/futbol/2021/11/23/champions/1637659465_054023.html) The round of 16 paired them with Atlético Madrid, whose own league form had been inconsistent and who had reached the knockout stage with difficulty.[12](https://as.com/futbol/2022/02/23/champions/1645584385_000817.html)
**First leg, Madrid, 23 February 2022.** Atlético led from the seventh minute, [João Félix](https://www.edgepedia.org/joao-felix) meeting [Renan Lodi](https://www.edgepedia.org/renan-lodi)'s cross with a header that went in off a post. United had no touch in the Atlético penalty area in the entire first half, and Atlético twice hit the woodwork through [Šime Vrsaljko](https://www.edgepedia.org/sime-vrsaljko) and Antoine Griezmann. Anthony Elanga, 19 years old, equalised in the 80th minute, five minutes after coming on, running onto Bruno Fernandes's through ball; the goal was United's 500th in the European Cup and made Elanga the youngest Swedish goalscorer in Champions League history at 19 years, 302 days.[13](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0272-1484491ab84e-dfdb0a132867-1000--report-atletico-1-1-man-united/) Atlético completed only 221 passes, fewer than any other side that week, but pressed United into a 45.5% tackle success rate against their own 73.7%; United finished with an expected-goals total of 0.56.[14](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0272-148800010d4d-9bf18be1f69c-1000--in-the-zone-atletico-1-1-manchester-united-performance-ana/)
**Second leg, Old Trafford, 15 March 2022.** Renan Lodi headed the only goal in the 41st minute from Griezmann's cross, and Atlético's defense held firm for a 0–1 win, 2–1 on aggregate. [Jan Oblak](https://www.edgepedia.org/jan-oblak) denied Elanga and later parried a [Raphaël Varane](https://www.edgepedia.org/raphael-varane) header, and United's run of scoring in 13 consecutive Champions League matches ended.[3](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0273-14ac82730bcf-fc75ed5d483a-1000--manchester-united-0-1-atletico-agg-1-2-renan-lodi-sinks-/) The exit extended a poor knockout record: United had won only two of their last 15 Champions League knockout matches, and had lost four of their last five home games in the round of 16.[3](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0273-14ac82730bcf-fc75ed5d483a-1000--manchester-united-0-1-atletico-agg-1-2-renan-lodi-sinks-/)
## League collapse and records
The second half of the league season deteriorated. A defeat at Brighton on 7 May confirmed United would finish with their lowest points total in Premier League history, and a loss at Crystal Palace on the final day made it six consecutive away league defeats for the first time since March 1981.[2](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12621119/manchester-uniteds-five-years-of-failure-examined-how-and-why-the-trophies-stopped-and-key-factors-explored) The final tally of 58 points, 16 wins, and a goal difference of zero was six points below the club's previous Premier League low, and the 57 goals conceded were the club's worst defensive performance in the competition.[15](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/may/24/premier-league-2021-22-season-review-our-writers-best-and-worst) • [2](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12621119/manchester-uniteds-five-years-of-failure-examined-how-and-why-the-trophies-stopped-and-key-factors-explored) The season ended with Europa League football for the following campaign.[15](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/may/24/premier-league-2021-22-season-review-our-writers-best-and-worst)
## Finances
In September 2022 the club announced a net loss of £115.5m for the 2021–22 season, even though revenue rose by 18% to £583.2m.[4](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62992818)
## References
1. [Manchester United FC Season History, Premier League](https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/12/Tottenham-Hotspur/season-history)
2. [Manchester United's five years of failure examined, Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12621119/manchester-uniteds-five-years-of-failure-examined-how-and-why-the-trophies-stopped-and-key-factors-explored)
3. [Manchester United 0-1 Atlético (agg 1-2): Renan Lodi sinks Red Devils, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0273-14ac82730bcf-fc75ed5d483a-1000--manchester-united-0-1-atletico-agg-1-2-renan-lodi-sinks-/)
4. [Manchester United announce net loss of £115.5m for 2021-22, BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62992818)
5. [Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: Man Utd sack manager with club seventh in Premier League, BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54826343)
6. [2010 Onwards: History by Decade, Manchester United](https://www.manutd.com/en/club/history/history-by-decade/2010-onwards)
7. [2021/22 Season Review, Premier League](https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/2634049)
8. [Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: What went wrong at Man Utd?, BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59364799)
9. [Ralf Rangnick: What can Man Utd expect from the German manager?, BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59424305)
10. [Manchester United appoint Ralf Rangnick as interim manager, BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59439956)
11. [Las cuentas de los españoles para meterse en octavos de Champions, AS](https://as.com/futbol/2021/11/23/champions/1637659465_054023.html)
12. [Dudas y una certeza: Cristiano, AS](https://as.com/futbol/2022/02/23/champions/1645584385_000817.html)
13. [Atlético 1-1 Manchester United: Elanga cancels out João Félix opener, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0272-1484491ab84e-dfdb0a132867-1000--report-atletico-1-1-man-united/)
14. [In the Zone: Atlético 1-1 Manchester United performance analysis, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0272-148800010d4d-9bf18be1f69c-1000--in-the-zone-atletico-1-1-manchester-united-performance-ana/)
15. [Premier League 2021-22 season review, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/may/24/premier-league-2021-22-season-review-our-writers-best-and-worst)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football competitions and records › Competitions and recurring events › Domestic leagues and league seasons › English Premier League and top flight*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 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