Looking back at everything you need to know from the 2010/11 Manchester United season.
The 2010/11 season was a significant one for the Red Devils, primarily because Manchester United secured their 19th English top-flight title, surpassing Liverpool’s previous record of 18.
It was a memorable season in terms of Premier League results, but United also reached the Champions League final before losing 3-1 to a dominant Barcelona side at Wembley.
- Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson
United’s form at Old Trafford was second to none during the season, after winning 18 of their 19 home league matches, drawing only one. It was significantly better than United’s away form in the league after winning just five times on the road.
Moreover, United had a club-record 29-match unbeaten run, which ended in February after losing 2-1 against Wolves at Molineux.
The FA Cup run ended in the semi-finals against Man City, who went on to win the tournament. This came after United failed to defend the League Cup by losing 4-0 against West Ham in the Fifth Round.
Season outcome and top scorer
- Premier League position: 1st
- Points total: 80
- FA Cup: Semi-final
- League Cup: Fifth Round
- Champions League: Final
- Trophies: 1
Dimitar Berbatov finished the season as United’s top scorer with 21 goals. The Bulgarian striker scored 20 goals in the Premier League that season, but failed to score in seven Champions League appearances before Sir Alex Ferguson regrettably left him out of the final.
- Top scorer: Dimitar Berbatov – 21
Signings
- Bebe
- Chris Smalling
- Javier Hernandez
- Anders Lindegaard
Memorable matches
Let’s check in on the matches we remember fondly…
Manchester United 2-1 Man City
United earned a vital 2-1 victory over rivals Man City after an incredible winner in the 78th minute from Wayne Rooney. Nani opened the scoring before half-time, but City equalised when Edin Dzeko’s strike deflected off David Silva.
Rooney dealt a blow to City with one of the best goals in Premier League history. Nani’s cross was converted by Rooney’s overhead, bicycle kick.
The three points gave United an edge in the title race.
Manchester United 7-1 Blackburn Rovers
This match will be remembered as one of Berbatov’s best performances for United, scoring five goals, equalling the Premier League record for most goals in a single match. Ji-sung Park and Nani also got on the scoresheet, while Christopher Samba scored a consolation goal for Blackburn Rovers as the game finished 7-1
Manchester United 2-1 Chelsea
This was the day United guaranteed the 19th league title.
Chelsea won the Premier League the season prior, but they were dealt an early blow when Javier Hernandez scored after just 36 seconds.
Nemanja Vidic added a second as United restored a six-point lead with two games left to play.
Schalke 0-2 Manchester United
Although United lost the Champions League, the semi-final win over Schalke was one to remember.
United would have been well ahead by half-time if it wasn’t for Manuel Neuer starring between the sticks for the Bundesliga outfit.
Ryan Giggs broke the deadlock following an assist from Rooney, who doubled the lead two minutes later.
United won the second leg 4-1.
Manchester United 3-2 Liverpool
Berbatov was the star man for United again, scoring a hat-trick to stun Liverpool.
The hat-trick included a magnificent overhead kick, and it was the first time a United player scored three against Liverpool in 64 years.
Steven Gerrard scored a brace, but it wasn’t enough to take anything from Liverpool’s trip to Old Trafford.
What else happened in 2010/11?
On December 19, 2010, Ferguson became the long-serving manager in United’s history after surpassing Sir Matt Busby.
The arrival of Hernandez was deemed a major success. As a young Mexican striker, playing in Europe for the first time, he scored 13 goals in his first season at the club.
Edwin van der Sar completed his final season with the club, despite fans stressing in the stands that they wanted him to stay.
Ravel Morrison graduated from the United academy to make his debut in the League Cup against Wolves.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
