Manchester United has won the English Premier League title or equivalent a record 20 times in their history. That makes them English soccer’s most decorated club, but the glory days now seem like a distant memory. A decade after their last league flag, the Red Devils remain transitional. They continue to struggle to re-adjust to life following the retirement of famous manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Erik Ten Haag now sits in the hot seat and led the team to a third-place finish in the EPL last term. That bronze medal has been one of their better finishes post-Fergie and means they return to UEFA Champions League soccer in the 2023/24 campaign. The aim is to improve the squad and build on last season’s finish behind champions Manchester City and runners-up Arsenal.
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The Citizens won a treble last term, adding the FA Cup and Champions League to a third EPL trophy in three seasons. They are the early betting favorites with the most trusted online sportsbooks, but United will challenge them. The odds offered on the Premier League champion suggest a competitive season, and we can’t wait to get started and enjoy the show.
Fans Excited About The Future
United have been active in the summer transfer window as they aim to bolster their squad ahead of next season’s challenge. The board has vowed to back the manager with the full power of its financial might, which excites fans. Is 2023/24 the season we see the Red Devils storm back? They certainly have a good chance.
With soccer games thin on the ground now, it seems an ideal opportunity to reflect on Man Utd’s last league win. That success is ten years old, and how the club has changed in that decade continues to amaze sports fans. But this team won’t be happy with a third-place finish while watching their great rivals celebrate.
Fans take encouragement from the summer spending spree at Old Trafford and hope success is in the pipeline. Keep reading as we reflect on a memorable and exciting 2012/13 season for the Man Utd’s faithful. That was their most recent EPL title win, but will it be their last?
RvP Strikes To Snatch A Late Win
We enjoyed two Manchester derbies during the 2012/13 season, with the rivals ending on one win each. The first game was played at the Etihad Stadium in early December, with the visitors laying down a marker, winning by the odd goal in five.
In an end-to-end affair, United raced into a 2-0 lead inside 30 minutes following an early double from Wayne Rooney, including the opener on 16 minutes. It looked like the Red Devils were home and hosed in that game, but City fought back with strikes from Yaya Toure and Pablo Zabaleta.
City leveled on 86 minutes to snatch a point, but there was late drama, with Robin van Persie netting minutes before the final whistle. It was the kind of unpredictable game we’ve come to expect from the Manchester rivals, and that set the pace for the second and last game of the season.
Aguero Returns The Favor
The second Manchester derby of the season was played at Old Trafford on Monday, 8th April 2013. With United moving in on a 20th league title, they were favorites to win at home and do the double over their rivals. But this fixture rarely follows the script, and it didn’t that day, Man City leaving the Theatre of Dreams with all three points.
James Milner finally broke the deadlock in a tense affair, scoring the opener in 51 minutes as United was caught napping after halftime. The hosts weren’t about to roll over and accept defeat, and they got level after Vincent Kompany bundled the ball into his net under pressure. It was a rare mistake from the City captain.
Just like the previous meeting across the city, there was late drama at Old Trafford when Sergio Aguero struck what proved to be the winner in 78 minutes. United threatened to return but lacked the cutting edge to turn chances into goals.
2012/2013 Premier League Recap
Ferguson’s team finished on top with stats showing 28 wins, five draws, and five defeats, scoring 86 and conceding 43. The champions ended 11 points clear of nearest rivals Man City who had 23 wins, nine draws, and six losses.
That unpredictability encourages players and teams to try, and makes for a compelling spectacle, along with plenty of surprises. Even at the top level, good teams sometimes lose and that’s one of the main reasons that soccer, and the World Cup, has reached its current level of global popularity.