Manchester United are ending 2024 with hope that 2025 will be year that provides more positive direction.
Manchester United’s league position speaks volumes. This is a team that requires major improvement from top of bottom. Ruben Amorim has warned it could get worse before it gets better.
Yet even while 2024 has been a wholly unsatisfactory year for the club, it has been scattered with memorable moments to last a lifetime.
We have picked out four special moments in 2024 that we will look back on and savour…
Kobbie Mainoo’s winner over Wolves
Manchester United fans knew coming into 2024 that Kobbie Mainoo was a special player, with the young midfielder impressing in late 2023 in a first league start away at Everton.
Mainoo began 2024 as a starter and in January 2024 he scored his first goal for the club, in the FA Cup against Newport County.
Days later he had a signature moment, netting a special last minute winning goal away at Wolves in a 4-3 victory.
United had led all game, before blowing the lead, a theme under Erik ten Hag, with Wolves stunning the Red Devils by equalising to 3-3.
Kobbie Mainoo had other ideas, driving towards the box, exchanging passes with Omari Forson, before curling the ball into the bottom corner.
It was a dramatic moment, a sign of Kobbie Mainoo’s growth and confidence, which he later followed up with a curling strike at home to Liverpool at Old Trafford.
Amad sends Old Trafford wild vs Liverpool
Manchester United’s recent Carabao Cup elimination ended up denying us a semi-final with Liverpool, which was agonising, as these ties are special.
You won’t get a more perfect encapsulation of knockout football than Manchester United’s FA Cup quarter-final with Liverpool.
A back and forth game saw United take a lead, before having to equalise late to force extra-time, and then coming back to equalise again after going 3-2 down.
With the game heading to penalties, a swift counter attack saw Amad punish some slack Liverpool defending, perfectly angling his shot into the bottom corner.
It was a moment where Old Trafford erupted, pure jubilation, Amad even picked up a red card during his celebrations.
This was a breakthrough moment or Amad, and one of two times he features on this list with a winning goal.
Winning the FA Cup Final
Amad’s quarter-final goal was not in vain, despite Manchester United’s efforts to throw it away in the semi-final against Coventry.
United came into the cup final against City as underdogs, written off after a collapse in form in the league, although Erik ten Hag did stumble on a new tactical approach in the final two games.
Ten Hag got it right in the final, starting without a recognised centre-forward, and United made City pay for a display below their standards.
Two goals from youngsters Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo set United on the path to victory, in a truly memorable team performance.
Sofyan Amrabat looked like a new player mastering the midfield alongside Mainoo, while Bruno Fernandes’ assist for Mainoo’s goal was one you could watch again and again.
In defence Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez combined to shut out Erling Haaland, putting a season of injury woes behind them.
The final result may have clouded the view on Erik ten Hag’s future, with the manager kept on, yet as a day itself, it was special, and this is what football is all about.
After the disappointment of losing the 2023 final to City, triumphing in 2024 felt euphoric, a first FA Cup Final victory since 2016.
Amad’s winner at The Etihad
New Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim enjoyed a pretty special moment just two minutes into his first game when Marcus Rashford netted against Ipswich. This could not be maintained, with that match ending in a draw.
Amorim has had an up-and-down first few weeks, with wins and losses split – but there has been one signature moment.
Manchester United secured an impressive first away win over rivals City since 2021 with a 2-1 victory over Pep Guardiola’s plummeting side.
It was Amad’s second special winner of the year, and this one was an even better goal, flicking the ball up to control it, and volleying it into the bottom corner.
The goal was a sign of Amad’s continued growth as a player, he’s become a key starter, one of the bright spots of 2024.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
