Manchester United F.C. season 2009–10
Encyclopedia
The 2009–10 season was Manchester United's 18th season in the Premier League, and their 35th consecutive season in the top division of English football
. Having equalled Liverpool
's record of 18 English league titles the previous season, Manchester United were looking to break that record with an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title in 2009–10, but they were ultimately beaten to the title by Chelsea
by a single point. They also had the chance to be the first team to reach three consecutive Champions League
finals since Juventus
in 1998
, but they were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Bayern Munich
.
On 28 February 2010, United won the League Cup
for the second season in a row, defeating Aston Villa
2–1 at Wembley
. In doing so, they became the first club to successfully defend the trophy since Nottingham Forest
in 1990, and the third club to do so overall, after Forest (1989 and 1990) and Liverpool
(1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984). It was United's fourth League Cup title, and their third in five years. It was the first time United had ever successfully defended a domestic cup. They were, however, knocked out of the FA Cup
in the third round after a surprise 1–0 home loss to fierce rivals Leeds United
.
at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium
in Bukit Jalil
, Kuala Lumpur
. United took a 2–0 lead in the first half-hour through Rooney
and Nani
, but Mohd Amri Yahyah
pulled one back on the stroke of half-time before pulling the sides level seven minutes into the second half. Michael Owen
then scored his first goal for Manchester United in the 85th minute to win the match for the club. The team was then scheduled to travel to Jakarta
, Indonesia
, for the first time four days later, where they would play against an Indonesian Super League
Select XI at the Bung Karno Stadium
on 20 July. However, following the 2009 Jakarta bombings
on 17 July, the club cancelled the match. Instead, the team played a second match against the Malaysia XI at Bukit Jalil on 20 July, which they won 2–0 with goals from Federico Macheda
and Michael Owen in the first 15 minutes.
They then flew to South Korea
for a match against FC Seoul
at the Seoul World Cup Stadium
on 24 July. After going into the half-time interval 2–1 down, goals from Federico Macheda and Dimitar Berbatov
led United to a 3–2 win. The final match of the tour was played in China on 26 July 2009 against Hangzhou Greentown at the Yellow Dragon Stadium in Hangzhou
, Zhejiang
. Although it took more than a quarter of the match before the first goal came, they then began to flow thick and fast as Michael Owen scored a brace, Dimitar Berbatov, Zoran Tošić
and Nani got one each, and Ryan Giggs
scored a hat-trick from the bench to secure an 8–2 win.
En route from returning from East Asia
, the United team travelled to Munich
to take part in the Audi Cup
on 29 July and 30 July 2009. The tournament, organised to celebrate Audi
's 100th year in business, featured the hosts Bayern Munich
, as well as Milan
and Boca Juniors. Four matches were played at the Allianz Arena
in Munich over two days, with United first playing against Boca Juniors. With a 2–1 win featuring a maiden goal for Anderson
and a debut goal for Antonio Valencia, United secured a place in the final against Bayern Munich the next day. Both sides played out a cagey goalless draw, meaning that the match went straight to penalties. The score reached 6–6 after seven penalties each before Jonny Evans
saw his kick saved by Michael Rensing
, allowing Daniel Van Buyten to seal the win for the host team. After returning to England, United played their final friendly of the summer at Old Trafford
against Valencia
on 5 August 2009. Second half goals from Wayne Rooney
and Tom Cleverley
secured a 2–0 win.
, on 9 August 2009, when they played against 2008–09 FA Cup winners Chelsea
. Portuguese international Nani
opened the scoring for United in the 10th minute, but Chelsea equalised through his compatriot Ricardo Carvalho
seven minutes into the second half. Chelsea then took the lead through a controversial Frank Lampard
goal in the 70th minute; with Manchester United in possession, Michael Ballack
body-checked Patrice Evra
only for the referee to play advantage. With Evra still on the floor, possession then changed leaving United short-handed in defence, allowing Lampard to shoot past Ben Foster
in the United goal. With Chelsea leading as the match went into injury time, Ryan Giggs
played in Wayne Rooney
, who lifted the ball over the onrushing Petr Čech
to take the match to penalties. Lampard opened the scoring in the shootout, only for Ryan Giggs to have his kick down the middle of the goal saved by the feet of Čech. Ballack, Carrick
and Drogba
all converted before Evra's tame effort was held by Čech. That left Salomon Kalou
with the opportunity to win the game for Chelsea, which he took with aplomb, smashing the ball into the top corner of the goal. If Manchester United had won, it would have made them the first team to win the FA Community Shield
outright three times in a row.
runners-up Birmingham City
on 16 August 2009. Despite missing several of their first-choice defenders
and goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar
, United won the match 1–0 with a first-half goal from Wayne Rooney
. The goal came in the 34th minute, when Dimitar Berbatov
released Nani
down the left. The Portuguese
international then crossed for Rooney, whose header ricocheted back off the post to him, allowing him to tap in with Hart beaten.
Three days later, the Red Devils suffered their first defeat of the season, going down by a single goal at Burnley
. Still missing key players at the back, United went behind after 19 minutes, as Robbie Blake
hit a volley into the top corner of the net after Stephen Jordan
's cross was only half-cleared by Patrice Evra
. Blake himself conceded a penalty on the stroke of half-time, but Michael Carrick
had his kick saved by Brian Jensen, low to the goalkeeper's right. As the Reds – wearing their all-black change strip – searched for an equaliser, the final ball kept evading them and several promising moves came to nothing, leaving United to endure a defeat.
After the mid-week setback, United returned to winning ways at the weekend, beating Wigan Athletic
5–0 at the DW Stadium on 22 August. Despite a goalless first half, Wayne Rooney scored his 100th and 101st goals for Manchester United, either side of one from Dimitar Berbatov. Michael Owen
scored his first competitive goal for the club five minutes from full time, before Nani made it five with a free-kick in the second minute of injury time.
United faced their first "big four" opposition of the season on 29 August, when they hosted Arsenal
at Old Trafford. Arsenal opened the scoring five minutes from the end of the first half through Andrei Arshavin; the Russian playmaker had been denied a penalty claim moments earlier, but then picked the ball up from Denílson
just outside the penalty area and fired a 25-yard strike past Ben Foster
. Wayne Rooney won a penalty for Manchester United in the 59th minute, knocking Ryan Giggs
' through-ball past Manuel Almunia
, who brought the English striker down. Rooney then stepped up to take the penalty himself, and slotted it home to the 'keeper's left. Arsenal responded with a free-kick from Robin van Persie
that hit the crossbar, but a United attack immediately afterwards produced a similar free kick, taken by Ryan Giggs, which Abou Diaby
headed into his own net. With the final attack of the game, deep into the fifth minute of injury time, Arsenal had the ball in the net again, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside against William Gallas
, and the match finished 2–1 to United. For his show of frustration with the offside decision – kicking a water bottle down the touchline – Arsène Wenger
was sent off.
After a two-week break for internationals, United returned to Premier League action with an away match against Tottenham Hotspur
. Despite United having their first-choice centre-back partnership together for the first time since the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final
, Spurs took the lead after 38 seconds through a Jermain Defoe
bicycle kick. Ryan Giggs levelled the scores in the 25th minute, curling a free kick past Carlo Cudicini
in the Tottenham goal, before Anderson
gave United the lead with his first competitive goal for the club. In the space of 10 minutes in the second half, Paul Scholes received two yellow cards and was sent off, although the second booking was controversial and later criticised by manager Alex Ferguson. Nevertheless, despite being reduced to ten men, the Red Devils increased their lead to 3–1 as Wayne Rooney slotted the ball through Cudicini's legs for the final goal of the game – Rooney's fifth in five league matches. The result took United to second place in the league table, behind unbeaten Chelsea
and ahead of Manchester City
, who had a game in hand. Giggs' goal continued his record of having scored a League goal in every Premier League season since the Premier League began in 1992-93, the only player to have done so.
Five days after playing against Beşiktaş
in Turkey, United returned to England for a home match against Manchester City
, the first Manchester derby
of the season. Despite having only just recovered from a knee injury, Carlos Tévez
was picked to start against his former team by City manager Mark Hughes
(himself a former Manchester United striker). United drew first blood, as Wayne Rooney, in the second minute, scored his sixth goal in as many league games, but Gareth Barry
equalised for City less than 15 minutes later after Tévez had forced an error from Ben Foster
in the United goal. The score remained at 1–1 going into half-time, but no sooner than Darren Fletcher
had restored United's lead, heading in a Ryan Giggs cross four minutes after the break, Craig Bellamy
drew City level again as Park Ji-Sung
was drawn away by the run of Tévez. After Berbatov had twice been denied by saves from Shay Given
, the Bulgarian striker was withdrawn for Michael Owen with 13 minutes left to play. Giggs again provided a cross for Fletcher to head United 3–2 up three minutes later, but with 10 seconds of normal time left to play, Martin Petrov
was gifted possession by Rio Ferdinand
and played Bellamy in, who scored past the onrushing Foster. The fourth official had already indicated that a minimum of four minutes would be added on to the 90 to account for stoppages, but Bellamy's goal celebration and United's substitution of Carrick for Anderson meant that more would have to be played. Then, in the sixth minute of added time, Giggs played a through-ball for Owen, who clipped the ball over Shay Given to clinch a last-gasp 4–3 win that temporarily sent the home side to the top of the table. Mark Hughes later expressed his aggravation at the fact that United's winning goal had come almost 90 seconds after the added time indicated by the fourth official had elapsed, and television analysis also showed that the referee should have signalled the end of the game one second before Owen's goal had crossed the line.
The following weekend, United made the trip to Stoke-on-Trent
to take on Stoke City
at the Britannia Stadium
. After a goalless first half, Ryan Giggs was brought on in place of Nani ten minutes into the second half, and had an almost-immediate impact. Darren Fletcher played a through-ball into the penalty area and into the path of Giggs, who then played a square ball across the edge of the six-yard box to Dimitar Berbatov, allowing the Bulgarian a simple finish. With 15 minutes left to play, Fletcher was bundled over by Rory Delap
on the right side of the penalty area. The left-footed Giggs crossed the consequent free-kick into the penalty area, where John O'Shea
rose above his marker, Danny Collins
, to head the ball past Thomas Sørensen
in the Stoke goal. The match finished at 2–0 and, combined with Chelsea
's 3–1 defeat by Wigan Athletic
the same day, the result meant that United finished the weekend on top of the league for the first time in the season.
The league schedule took United back to Old Trafford for their next game against Sunderland
on 3 October. United were one of four teams still protecting a 100% home record in 2009–10, but it was Sunderland who took the lead after seven minutes, as Darren Bent
beat Ben Foster from outside the penalty area. It took United until five minutes into the second half to equalise: Dimitar Berbatov volleying John O'Shea's cross home with a bicycle kick. However, parity was short-lived as Kenwyne Jones
scored for the Black Cats just seven minutes later. The Sunderland striker went up for a header with Foster, but the two collided and the ball came off the Trinidadian and trickled into the empty net. With six minutes remaining in normal time, Sunderland's former Manchester United winger Kieran Richardson
was sent off for dissent, leading to a second yellow card. This allowed pressure from Manchester United to mount, and in the fourth minute of injury time, a shot across the face of goal from Patrice Evra was turned into the Sunderland goal by defender Anton Ferdinand
– brother of United defender Rio. The 2–2 result maintained United's unbeaten home record for the season and gave them a one-point lead at the top of the table. However, they dropped back down to second place after Chelsea beat Liverpool the following day.
Another international break followed in the middle of October, from which Wayne Rooney returned with a calf strain, ruling him out of United's next fixture against Bolton Wanderers
on 17 October. However, Edwin van der Sar
recovered from his hand injury to make his first appearance of the season, while Berbatov returned from the birth of his first child in Bulgaria to partner Michael Owen up front. A header from Owen, diverted into the net by Zat Knight
, gave United the lead in the fifth minute, before Antonio Valencia doubled the lead just after the half-hour mark. The Ecuadorian winger played a one-two with Gary Neville
to work his way into the penalty area, and then fired the ball past Jussi Jääskeläinen
. Matthew Taylor
pulled a goal back for Bolton, heading home a cross from Kevin Davies
, but it turned out to be the last goal of the game, and United won 2–1. Following Chelsea's 2–1 defeat by Aston Villa
earlier in the day, United's win sent them back to the top of the league table.
After returning from a trip to Moscow in the Champions League in mid-week, United travelled down the M62
to take on Liverpool
in the first North West derby of the season on 25 October. In the build-up to the game, much media attention had been spent on the fitness of Wayne Rooney, who had missed the club's last two games, and the prospect of Michael Owen facing his former club in Manchester United colours for the first time. Rooney was passed fit on the morning of the game, meaning that Owen started on the bench, while Giggs and Evra also started after missing the match against CSKA Moscow. Liverpool and their manager Rafael Benitez
went into the game under great pressure, as they had lost their previous four games and were on the verge of their worst losing streak in 56 years. Liverpool had also been struggling with injuries, with Steven Gerrard
, Glen Johnson and Fernando Torres
all doubtful for the starting line-up. Gerrard was eventually deemed not to be fit enough to play, but Johnson and Torres both started, and it was the Spanish striker who opened the scoring in the 65th minute. Yossi Benayoun
, in the side as Gerrard's deputy, played a through-ball to Torres, who outpaced Nemanja Vidić
before shrugging off the challenge of Rio Ferdinand and shooting past Van der Sar from a narrowing angle. A few minutes later, Michael Owen was brought on in place of Dimitar Berbatov to a chorus of boos from the Anfield
crowd, but the former Liverpool man was unable to turn the game in United's favour. He did manage to draw a foul by Jamie Carragher
on the edge of the Liverpool penalty area, for which Carragher received a yellow card, although there were suggestions that the Liverpool captain was the last man and should have been sent off. Vidić was booked for an unnecessary foul on Torres in the 75th minute, and then committed a cynical foul on Dirk Kuyt
in the 90th, resulting in his third red card in as many matches against Liverpool. Deep into injury time, Javier Mascherano was also sent off for a second bookable offence – a rash tackle on Edwin van der Sar – but it was Liverpool who had the last word as David N'Gog
sealed a 2–0 win with a goal in the sixth minute of injury time. Following Chelsea's win over Blackburn Rovers
the day before, the result meant that United dropped back down to second place in the Premier League.
Injuries to Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidić kept them out of United's next league match against Blackburn Rovers
on 31 October, meaning that Jonny Evans
and Wes Brown
would continue their defensive partnership from the League Cup game against Barnsley
in mid-week. Dimitar Berbatov found the back of the net in the first half, set up by a square pass from Wayne Rooney, but the goal was ruled out as Rooney was found to have been offside when Nani played him the ball in the build-up. The first legitimate goal of the game came 10 minutes into the second half: Patrice Evra hit a shot from well outside the area, but it was going well wide; Berbatov controlled the ball with one touch before swivelling and shooting into the bottom corner of Paul Robinson
's goal. Rooney secured a 2–0 win for United three minutes from the end of normal time, following some neat wing play by Gabriel Obertan
– making his Premier League debut – and Anderson. The French winger made his way down the touchline before allowing the Brazilian to take over; Anderson hit a left-footed cross into the area, which Rooney met with a first-time shot. A win for Arsenal in the North London derby
earlier in the day had pushed United down to third place in the Premier League table, but the victory over Blackburn returned the Red Devils to second place by the end of the day.
United then went to Stamford Bridge to play Chelsea
. Despite having good levels of possession and playing well, United ultimately suffered a 1–0 defeat, following a John Terry
goal fifteen minutes from time, which dropped them to third in the table.
Following the loss to Chelsea
, United welcomed Everton
to Old Trafford
on 21 November. With Berbatov out injured, this gave Michael Owen
a spot in the starting 11. Tomasz Kuszczak also started ahead of Ben Foster due to Van der Sar's injury. United had early chances but found it very difficult to put the ball in the back of the net. Everton created few chances and were saved by Leighton Baines
and Joseph Yobo
in the first 20 minutes as the Toffees held on. United turned possession into goals in the 35th minute when Evra's cross was laid off by the head of Antonio Valencia to Darren Fletcher, who emphatically drilled home a spectacular half-volley past the outstretched and former Red Tim Howard
in goal for the Merseysiders. Michael Owen had a half chance to extend the lead for United shortly before half time when he timed his run perfectly to stay onside and latch on to Wayne Rooney's skilful flick. However, he would have done well to score from the tight angle as Howard quickly rushed out to block his shot. Carrick doubled the champions' lead with a low left-foot drive; Giggs' cross found a way back to him after a poor shot from Rooney and took a few touches before he picked out an unmarked Carrick at the edge of the box. Valencia made it 3–0 eight minutes later with a deflected shot off Baines that wrong-footed Howard. Scholes laid it off to him as the Ecudorian made no mistake in wrapping up a comprehensive victory.
Still without their usual back four, the Red Devils then travelled south to a drenched Fratton Park
to play rock-bottom Portsmouth
. Both Berbatov and Owen were left on the bench, meaning that Giggs and Rooney would start up front together for the first time in the season. Ben Foster's status as Manchester United's third-choice goalkeeper was also underlined as Kuszczak was selected in place of the injured Edwin van der Sar. The Pole was quickly called into action as Portsmouth began brightly, denying Aruna Dindane before an excellent acrobatic save to deny Jamie O'Hara. It took nearly half an hour before United had found the net. Rooney won a penalty after he was fouled by Michael Brown inside the penalty area; he himself stepped up to slot the resulting penalty home despite Asmir Begović
tipping the curling ball. Parity was short-lived as Kevin-Prince Boateng
equalised for the hosts just eight minutes later via another penalty goal after Serbian international Nemanja Vidić clumsily fouled Frédéric Piquionne
. Nevertheless, United put on a master-class during the second half, Wayne Rooney scoring his first hat-trick of the season with another penalty and a superb tap-in. Three minutes from time, Giggs bagged his 100th Premier League goal with a curling free kick on the eve of his 36th birthday.
Three days after a shock 1–0 home defeat to Aston Villa
, United were visited by Wolverhampton Wanderers
on 15 December. Wolves lasted 30 minutes before falling behind to a Wayne Rooney penalty which was awarded after Ronald Zubar
handled Darron Gibson's corner kick. Two minutes before the interval, Nemanja Vidić – skipper for the day – headed United to a 2–0 lead despite Marcus Hahnemann
making his best effort to stop the ball crossing the line. In the 66th minute, Antonio Valencia once again wrapped up another 3–0 victory, curling his effort from 16 yards into the top right-hand corner after neat play from Dimitar Berbatov.
United suffered their fifth loss of the season on 19 December, losing 3–0 to Fulham
at Craven Cottage
. This was their heaviest away league defeat for over three-and-a-half years, when Chelsea
clinched the 2005–06 title by beating United by the same scoreline at Stamford Bridge
on 29 April 2006.
United followed this with a visit to the KC Stadium
to play Hull City
, a game that they won 3–1 following goals from Wayne Rooney
and Dimitar Berbatov
either side of an own goal
from Andy Dawson. This result lifted them back into second place.
United ended 2009 in the league with their second 5–0 thrashing of Wigan
of the season, with the goals scored by five different players. Wayne Rooney
continued his fine run of form with the opening goal just before the half-hour mark, before Michael Carrick
and Rafael
scored before half-time. Five minutes into the second half Dimitar Berbatov
scored and the rout was completed by Valencia
with fifteen minutes to go. The result helped United's goal difference column, but they remained second in the table behind Chelsea
as the New Year came around.
Following the unexpected defeat to Leeds United in the third round of the FA Cup
, United tried to return to winning ways away at Birmingham
. However, United - despite playing well - went behind and only equalised just after an hour through an own goal by Scott Dann
. Both teams tried to win the match, but despite late chances for both sides the game ended 1–1 in a match that could have seen United go top had they won.
United returned to winning ways in the league with an ultimately comfortable 3–0 win at home to Burnley
. Burnley held out well until just after the hour mark before Dimitar Berbatov
opened the scoring from close range. Five minutes later, Wayne Rooney
slotted home the second before Mame Biram Diouf
scored his first United goal in injury time.
United took full advantage of playing their home game against Hull
before Chelsea
played to go top of the table (albeit having played two more games than their rivals), but for a long time the issue was in doubt. After Wayne Rooney
scored after just eight minutes both teams missed a plethora of chances to score. Rio Ferdinand
was very fortunate to avoid a red card and a penalty following an off-the-ball incident (for which he would later be retrospectively suspended for three games, increased to four after his appeal was turned down for being "frivolous"). With just eight minutes of normal time remaining, Rooney's early goal was still the only thing separating the two teams, but then three goals in quick succession - all from Wayne Rooney - gave United a 4–0 win. It was the first time that Rooney had scored four goals in a professional game and put United into first place until both Chelsea
won one of two games in hand
to drop them down to second again.
United celebrated victory in the League Cup
Semi-Final over local rivals Manchester City
with a great performance away at third-placed Arsenal
. The Gunners began the match just a point behind United and with hopes of mounting a serious title challenge to United and Chelsea
. They began well, Andriy Arshavin shooting wide twice early on when well placed. But a man-of-the-match performance from Portuguese
mis-fit Nani
turned the match in United's favour. Firstly, a piece of skill took him past two defenders, before he put in a cross towards the far post, which keeper, Manuel Almunia
palmed into his own net just after the half-hour. Five minutes later, Arsenal had a corner, but a lightning breakaway by Nani and Wayne Rooney
saw the latter score his 100th Premier League goal by slotting past Almunia with a first-time shot from a great pass by the Portuguese winger just eleven seconds after Arsenal took their corner. United's attacking on the break continued to cause Arsenal trouble and five minutes into the second half Park Ji-Sung
broke away from within his own half and, despite having Rooney and Nani in support, slotted past Almunia to seal the three points. A late goal from Thomas Vermaelen (deflected off Jonny Evans
gave Arsenal hope, but they failed to find another goal and - after missed chances from Nani and Rooney, the game ended 3–1, leaving United second, one point behind Chelsea having played a game more. Chelsea then failed to beat Hull to leave the top three having all played 24 games, Chelsea two points ahead of United with Arsenal a further four points behind.
United returned (briefly) to the top of the table following a 5–0 thrashing of bottom club Portsmouth
at home
. Despite a couple of early opportunities for the visitors, including a Jonny Evans
clearance off the line, United took the lead five minutes before half-time when Wayne Rooney
headed home a Darren Fletcher
cross. United were two up before half-time when Nani
's cross was turned into his own net by Anthony Vanden Borre
, the shot rolling past keeper David James
. In the second half a Michael Carrick
shot took a wild deflection off Richard Hughes
to loop over keeper James and in off the crossbar before Dimitar Berbatov
made up for a close-range miss in the first half by shooting home from just outside the penalty area. Portsmouth's misery was complete with more than twenty minutes left when Marc Wilson shot spectacularly into the roof of his own net whilst trying to clear the ball. The win put United top for 24 hours, before Chelsea
beat Arsenal
to regain the top spot.
United then travelled to Villa Park where they drew 1–1 with Aston Villa
. Villa took the lead through a Carlos Cuéllar
header but their lead was short-lived as James Collins put through his own net to make the score 1–1. Nani
was sent off on 29 minutes for a two-footed tackle on Stiliyan Petrov
but United held out for the point, which – combined with Everton's win over Chelsea that evening – reduced the gap at the top of the table to a single point.
United's next game was at Goodison Park
against Everton
who had beaten Chelsea the previous week. United fared no better, ultimately losing 3–1, despite going in front through a Dimitar Berbatov
goal after 16 minutes. However a Diniyar Bilyaletdinov
goal three minutes later, followed by second-half goals from Dan Gosling
and Jack Rodwell
gave United their 6th Premier League defeat of the season. A win would have returned United to the top of the table, since they played before Chelsea
, but this defeat, coupled with Chelseas' victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers
later in the day increased the gap at the top to four points.
Due to Carling Cup commitments, United had an early midweek fixture against West Ham United
. The game saw the return of Ben Foster in goal but no change in goalscoring service as Wayne Rooney
scored two headers and Michael Owen
's first league goal since the Manchester derby
saw United cruise to a 3–0 win.
United then went to Wolverhampton Wanderers
where a tight, poor game was decided by a Paul Scholes
goal around ten minutes from time.
United then played at home to Fulham
where they exacted direct revenge for the 3–0 defeat at Craven Cottage
earlier in the season after two goals from Wayne Rooney
, from crosses by Nani
and Berbatov and a late third from Dimitar Berbatov
himself gave United a win as comfortable as the scoreline suggested.
Uniteds' next league game was at home against bitter rivals, Liverpool
. The Merseyside team had won the last three games between the two sides, including the 2-0 win at Anfield
earlier in the season. It looked like a fourth straight league win might be on the cards when Fernando Torres
scored after just four minutes from a Dirk Kuyt
cross. However, the lead lasted only a few minutes before Javier Mascherano pulled down Luis Antonio Valencia
. The challenge began outside the penalty area, but - on the advice of his assistant referee
- official Howard Webb
gave a penalty. Pepe Reina saved the kick from Wayne Rooney
, but could only parry the ball back to the United forward who buried the rebound. The game remained at 1–1 until the hour mark when Park Ji-Sung
scored a close-range diving header from a Darren Fletcher
cross. Torres and Yossi Benayoun
had late chances to steal a draw, but United held on for the win. Chelsea
's draw with Blackburn
later that day left United two points clear of Arsenal
and four ahead of Chelsea, who had played a game less
than both the Gunners and United. Chelsea ultimately won their game in hand to go second in the table, a point behind United.
United then went to the Reebok Stadium
to face Bolton Wanderers
. The game was fairly tight in the first half until a Jlloyd Samuel
own goal
put United 1-0 up after around half an hour. Saves from Edwin van der Sar
kept United in front before 3 goals in twelve minutes in the second half, two from Dimitar Berbatov
and one from Darron Gibson
gave United a 4-0 win to stay top of the table. In the title race, Chelsea demolished Aston Villa, but Arsenal could only draw away at Birmingham City and dropped 4 points behind United in third place.
However, the top two swapped places after Chelsea defeated United 2-1 at Old Trafford in the next League game. Wayne Rooney
was unable to play, having been injured at the end of the Champions League Quarter-Final 1st leg defeat to Bayern Munich and United clearly missed their main striker with a below-par performance. Joe Cole
slipped a back-heel home mid-way through the first half and - despite a vastly improved performance in the second, Didier Drogba
scored from an offside position after 79 minutes, the goal standing despite the offside. Federico Macheda
scored from close range two minutes later (though this goal was also questionable, having appeared to be scored by Machedas' hands) and, although United threw themselves forward (even Edwin van der Sar
ran up field at a late corner) Chelsea held on to take control of the title race with just five games remaining.
Uniteds' next game was away
to Blackburn Rovers
and followed the 3-2 victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League, but which was not good enough to put the Reds into the Semi-Finals of that competition. Having suffered a miserable few days (including the first-leg defeat at Bayern and the previous League defeat to Chelsea), United were looking to bounce back against a team that had not lost a home game since the previous August. Wayne Rooney
was out injured and so Federico Macheda
was up front with Dimitar Berbatov
. Although United pressed hard and played the better football, they could not find their way past a resolute Blackburn defence and the game ended 0-0.
United then went to the City of Manchester Stadium
to face Manchester City
in the fourth Manchester derby
of the season. United needed to win to have any chance of the title, whilst City wanted to win to prevent United having any title aspirations and to boost their own hopes of being in the UEFA Champions League
the following season. The game itself had few real chances. Carlos Tévez
had a first-half free-kick well saved by Edwin van der Sar
, whilst Wayne Rooney
(passed fit for the game), Ryan Giggs
, Darren Fletcher
and Paul Scholes
all passed up chances for United. Rooney made way for Dimitar Berbatov
with 15 minutes to go. As the game entered added time, Patrick Vieira
caused a scramble in the United penalty area, but the ball was eventually cleared. However, it looked as though the game would end goal-less until just 17 seconds from the scheduled end of injury time, Scholes headed in a cross from Patrice Evra
to win the match for United. This, coupled with a 2–1 win for Tottenham Hotspur
over Chelsea
left United just 1 point off the top of the table with 3 games remaining.
Tottenham Hotspur
were the next visitors to Old Trafford in a game both teams wanted to win – United to put pressure on Chelsea and Spurs to cement their fourth spot in the League. However, the first half was abysmal, and it was almost 30 minutes before either team had a shot on goal – let alone on target. At the start of the second half, Patrice Evra
began vomiting
on the pitch, but ultimately stayed on and won a penalty just before the hour mark, which Ryan Giggs
scored (Wayne Rooney
had picked up a groin injury in training and was ruled out of the match). Ledley King
scored with twenty minutes to go to restore parity, but United went back in front ten minutes later after Nani
lobbed Heurelho Gomes. Nani was then fouled in the box, giving Giggs his second penalty, which he also scored to give United a 3–1 lead. Nani also began to vomit as injury time came around, but United held on to go back to the top of the table for 24 hours, before Chelsea hammered Stoke City
7–0 to return to the summit.
By the time United played their penultimate game of the season - away to Sunderland - Chelsea
had already won their penultimate game away to Liverpool
and gone 4 points clear at the top of the table. With Chelsea having a vastly superior goal difference
to United, this meant that the Reds had to beat Sunderland to take the title to the final game of the season. A single Nani
goal after around half an hour was enough to give United the three points to put them back within a point of Chelsea at the top, with both teams having just one game to play - United at home to Stoke
and Chelsea at home to Wigan
.
United beat Stoke
by a score of 4 goals to nil in the final game of the season. It took almost half an hour to break the Stoke defence down, before a rebound came to Darren Fletcher
who shot home. Less than ten minutes later it was 2–0, Ryan Giggs
shooting under the Stoke goalkeeper. Further goals in the second half - an own goal
from former United player Danny Higginbotham
and a late header from Park Ji-Sung
gave United a comfortable win, but one that was ultimately in vain as Chelsea hammered Wigan 8–0 to win the title.
Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
at the Third Round stage, and were the last home team drawn on 29 November 2009. They welcomed bitter rivals Leeds United
to Old Trafford on 3 January 2010. Leeds reached the Third Round after beating Kettering Town
5–1 after extra time in a replay of their Second Round tie.
With a League Cup semi-final against Manchester City
three days later in mind, Alex Ferguson opted for a mix of youth and experience for the Leeds match; the midfield quartet of Gabriel Obertan
, Darron Gibson
, Anderson
and Danny Welbeck
had an average age of almost 21, while Gary Neville
and Wes Brown
started in defence with Wayne Rooney
and Dimitar Berbatov
up front. United went into the game 43 places above their opponents in the league system and started on the front foot; however, it was Leeds who opened the scoring in the 19th minute, when a long ball forward found Jermaine Beckford
, who held off Wes Brown
before poking the ball past Tomasz Kuszczak
in the United goal. In search of an equaliser, Manchester United had two penalty appeals turned down in the second half and both Rooney and Michael Owen
missed the target from close range, but the goal never came and the match finished 1–0 to Leeds, their first win at Old Trafford since 1981. The result meant that United had been eliminated from the FA Cup at the third round stage for the first time under the management of Alex Ferguson – they last lost an FA Cup third round tie in 1984, when they were beaten 2–0 by Bournemouth
at Dean Court.
. The draw for the Third Round took place on 29 August 2009, and gave Manchester United a home tie against fellow Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers
. The match was played at Old Trafford on 23 September 2009, and Alex Ferguson took the opportunity to give playing time to some of the club's fringe players, including back-up goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak
, midfielder Darron Gibson
and forwards Danny Welbeck
and Federico Macheda
, while derby
hero Michael Owen
was also given a position in the starting line-up. Ferguson also handed squad numbers to young Norwegian duo Joshua King
and Magnus Eikrem
. However, United were reduced to 10 men half-an-hour into the match as Fábio
was sent off for a professional foul on Michael Kightly
, who was through on goal; Ferguson responded by bringing Ritchie De Laet on in place of Macheda. Despite the numerical disadvantage, though, United went one-up in the 66th minute, as Welbeck played a one-two with Owen before firing past Wolves' goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann
. With ten minutes left in the game, Ferguson gave Joshua King his professional debut, coming on in place of Welbeck. Although King had two opportunities to add to United's lead, the match finished at 1–0 and Manchester United progressed to the Fourth Round of the competition.
The draw for the Fourth Round was made on 26 September 2009, and handed Manchester United a trip to Oakwell to play against Barnsley
, who are managed by former United striker Mark Robins
. The match was played on 27 October 2009, and the lower-league opposition meant that Ferguson could afford to pick some of the less experienced members of his squad, while summer signing Gabriel Obertan
was given his first senior start for the club. Danny Welbeck opened the scoring for United in the sixth minute, heading home Anderson
's corner for the only goal of the first half. Michael Owen doubled United's lead with a coolly taken finish 14 minutes into the second half, shooting early past former Manchester United goalkeeper Luke Steele from just inside the penalty area after playing the ball through the defender's legs. Despite a controversial red card for Gary Neville
– given more for his follow-through than the actual tackle on Adam Hammill
– United held on for a 2–0 win that sent them into the last eight of the competition.
In the draw for the Fifth Round of the competition, held on 31 October 2009, United were given a home tie against Tottenham Hotspur
, in a repeat of the 2009 final
. The match was played on 1 December 2009. United won 2–0 after a brace from Darron Gibson in the first half. He drove his first goal low into the left side of the net after a pass from Anderson. His second goal came after he hit the ball first time after it becoming loose just outside the box, sending it too far into the right top corner for Heurelho Gomes to reach. Despite a few missed close chances from Dimitar Berbatov, Park Ji-Sung and Kiko Macheda, the score remained 2–0 for the remainder of the match.
The semi-final draw was made on 2 December 2009 and paired United with local rivals Manchester City
. The two-legged tie was the first time in nearly six years that the two sides had met in a cup tie, and the first time in over 40 years that they had played in a semi-final. The first leg was scheduled to take place at the City of Manchester Stadium
on 6 January 2010, but although the pitch was playable, snow in the north of England the previous day caused the Greater Manchester Police
to advise the postponement of the match for the safety of travelling supporters. The first leg was then scheduled for 19 January 2010 – the original date for the second leg, which was played on 27 January.
United took the lead after 17 minutes of the first leg; Antonio Valencia was found in open space on the right wing and the Ecuadorian beat Craig Bellamy
before putting in a low cross. Wayne Rooney
reached the ball first, and although his shot was saved, the ball fell to Ryan Giggs
, who was left with a simple finish from two yards out in the middle of the goal. City equalised shortly before half-time via a controversial penalty from Carlos Tévez
; the penalty was awarded by referee Mike Dean
for a pull on Bellamy by United right-back Rafael
, but the Brazilian appeared to have let go of the City forward after the original foul had been committed outside the penalty area. City then took the lead half-way through the second half, Tévez again getting on the scoresheet after the United defence had failed to deal with a City corner. United pressed for an equaliser, but they were continually denied by reflex saves from City goalkeeper Shay Given
, and City took a 2–1 lead into the second leg at Old Trafford.
United set the pace at the start of the second leg, but it was City who made the better chances. Nevertheless, the first half passed without a goal, and United took the lead after seven minutes of the second half; City won a corner, which Craig Bellamy went across to take, but the Welsh forward was struck by missiles thrown from the United crowd. When the corner was eventually taken, the ball was cleared to Wayne Rooney, who beat his marker with a sharp turn before hitting a long diagonal ball to Ryan Giggs on the right wing. The Welshman played the ball into the box, where neither Nani
nor Michael Carrick
were able to get shots away, but the ball broke to Paul Scholes
on the edge of the penalty area and the veteran hit a low shot into the bottom corner of the net. Carrick doubled United's lead with 20 minutes left to play, passing the ball in off the far post after a lay-off from man-of-the-match Darren Fletcher
, but Carlos Tévez drew City level on aggregate five minutes later as he stretched his leg around Rio Ferdinand
to flick home Craig Bellamy's left-wing cross. With the scores level going into injury time, the tie was set for a further 30 minutes of play, but Giggs played a short corner before receiving the return ball and crossing into the six-yard box, where Wayne Rooney had stolen in to head past Shay Given. The goal secured a 3–1 win for United (4–3 on aggregate) and a place in the 2010 Football League Cup Final
, their second League Cup final in a row and their third in five years.
In a repeat of the 1994 final
, United's opponents in the final were Aston Villa
. They beat Blackburn Rovers
7–4 on aggregate (including a 6–4 home win in the second leg) to reach their first League Cup final for 14 years and their first Wembley
final since the 2000 FA Cup Final.
United won the final 2–1. James Milner
's fifth minute penalty, awarded after Nemanja Vidić
fouled Gabriel Agbonlahor
, gave Aston Villa an early lead, but Michael Owen
equalised seven minutes later after Richard Dunne
gave the ball away. Park Ji-Sung
hit the post late in the first half, but Wayne Rooney
's header from Antonio Valencia's cross gave United the win. Moments after he scored what turned out to be the winning goal, Rooney also hit the post with another header from another Valencia cross. But that counted for nothing as United held on to win the first silverware of the season.
on 27 August 2009. As one of the top eight-ranked sides in Europe, Manchester United were seeded in Pot 1, meaning that, as well as the three other English sides in the competition, they would avoid Sevilla
, Milan
, Bayern Munich
and their opponents in the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final
, Barcelona
. However, they could still be paired with clubs such as Real Madrid
, Internazionale
or Juventus
, amongst others. Eventually, they were drawn into Group B with three clubs they had never played before: CSKA Moscow of Russia, Beşiktaş
of Turkey and Wolfsburg
of Germany.
United opened their Champions League campaign with a 1–0 away win over Beşiktaş on 15 September. Paul Scholes
headed in the winning goal in the 77th minute after Nani
's shot had been saved by Hakan Arıkan
. The Portuguese winger cut inside off the left wing, hit a shot that was too hot for the Beşiktaş goalkeeper to handle and the ball rebounded into the path of Scholes, whose header went in off the post.
For the next match, two weeks later, United played host to the German champions, Wolfsburg, at Old Trafford. Wolfsburg began the game strongly, imposing themselves physically on the pitch, but although United had the upper hand by the end of the half, the teams went into the half-time interval at 0–0. After the break, United continued to create chances, but it was Wolfsburg who got the opening goal through striker Edin Džeko
. Michael Carrick
committed a foul on the edge of his penalty area, but the referee allowed play to continue as Wolfsburg were still in possession. The ball was crossed in by Makoto Hasebe
and Džeko rose above Patrice Evra
at the far post to head past Tomasz Kuszczak
. United responded immediately through a Ryan Giggs
free-kick that took a large deflection off Christian Gentner
in the Wolfsburg wall, wrong-footing goalkeeper Diego Benaglio, and found the bottom corner of the goal for Giggs' 150th for Manchester United. In the 78th minute, United won a throw-in on the left side, from which Evra found Wayne Rooney
. Rooney played the ball in to Dimitar Berbatov
in the Wolfsburg penalty area, but the Bulgarian was unable to make room for a shot and laid the ball off to Giggs. Likewise, Giggs could not find a shooting angle and chose to nudge the ball back to Carrick, who curled it into the far corner from outside the area. United protected their lead for the remaining 12 minutes, and the win took them to the top of their group.
For the first of their two matches against CSKA Moscow, on 21 October, United travelled to the Luzhniki Stadium
, the venue for their 2008 UEFA Champions League Final
victory. However, they were without Ryan Giggs, Patrice Evra, Park Ji-Sung
, Darren Fletcher
and Wayne Rooney, who were all unavailable due to injury. The stadium's artificial pitch had caused some concern prior to the game, but although CSKA were more used to the surface, United also settled on the unfamiliar turf and the match became cagey, resulting in a goalless first half. The match remained goalless until the 86th minute, when Antonio Valencia fired a shot past CSKA goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev
to secure a 1–0 win. The ball was flicked on to Valencia from Nani's left-wing cross by Dimitar Berbatov, and the Ecuadorian's shot was too powerful to stop. The result gave United their first win in six matches against Russian opposition. It also maintained their unbeaten away record in the UEFA Champions League, which stretched back 14 matches to May 2007, when they lost to Milan
in the semi-finals. The streak drew United level with Ajax, whose streak was ended by Juventus
in the 1996–97 semi-finals.
The return match with CSKA Moscow was played at Old Trafford two weeks later, on 3 November. Following the birth of his first son, Wayne Rooney was dropped to the bench, and United had to continue without their first-choice centre-backs, Rio Ferdinand
and Nemanja Vidić
. Dimitar Berbatov was also absent through injury, meaning that Federico Macheda
partnered Michael Owen
up front for his first Champions League appearance. After Alan Dzagoev
opened the scoring for CSKA with a powerful shot past Van der Sar from a narrow angle in the 25th minute, Owen equalised just four minutes later as the ball broke to him in the goal area and he passed it under the advancing Akinfeev. However, CSKA retook the lead almost immediately through Miloš Krasić
, and Vasili Berezutski doubled their lead shortly after half-time. The score remained at 3–1 until the 84th minute, when Gary Neville crossed a free-kick, which deflected off Nani for Paul Scholes to head home. Antonio Valencia then salvaged a draw for United in injury time, firing in a long-range shot that looked to be going wide until it took a wicked deflection off Georgi Schennikov. With Wolfsburg beating Beşiktaş 3–0 in Istanbul, the draw was enough to secure United's passage through to the knockout stage
of the competition, although they were yet to clinch top spot in the group.
United lost their home game 1–0 to Beşiktaş but clinched first place in their group after beating Wolfsburg 3–1 away. Michael Owen scored all three goals, claiming his first Manchester United hat trick.
, Switzerland
, on 18 December 2009. United, as group winners, could have faced such teams as Bayern Munich
and Internazionale
, but were ultimately paired with Milan
. This presented the possibility of former player David Beckham
facing United for the first time since he was sold to Real Madrid
in 2003.
Beckham started the first leg on the right side of the Milan midfield and played a major part in the build-up to the first goal of the game; in the third minute, Patrice Evra
gave away a free-kick 35 yards from goal, which Beckham crossed into the penalty area. Evra himself attempted an acrobatic clearance, but the ball only went as far as Ronaldinho
on the edge of the penalty area. The Brazilian forward volleyed the ball towards goal, and United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar dropped to his right to block its trajectory; however, Michael Carrick
got in the way first and it deflected off his legs and past Van der Sar. United then survived several lapses in concentration throughout the first half before Paul Scholes
got their equaliser with 10 minutes left in the half; Darren Fletcher
pulled a low cross back from the right side of the penalty area, and Scholes shaped to hit the ball with his right foot. He missed the ball, but it hit his standing leg and spun into the far corner of the goal past Dida's outstretched hand. United took the lead half-way through the second half via Wayne Rooney
; Antonio Valencia was played the ball on the right wing, and he beat Milan left-back Giuseppe Favalli
before standing up a cross to the far post, which Rooney headed looping back over Dida's head. Eight minutes later, Rooney was on the scoresheet again as he ran unmarked into the Milan penalty area and headed Fletcher's lobbed pass past a static Dida. Clarence Seedorf
pulled a goal back for Milan with five minutes left in the game, flicking the ball behind his right leg with his left foot, but United held on to win the match 3–2 and take three away goals
back to Old Trafford
.
The second leg was played three weeks later on 10 March. Wayne Rooney had missed United's previous match against Wolverhampton Wanderers
with an injury, but he was passed fit for the Milan game. Meanwhile, David Beckham was left on the bench for Milan, and so he would have to wait to make his Old Trafford return. At the start of play, Milan needed to score at least two goals to stand a chance of going through to the quarter-finals, but United put the tie almost beyond doubt in the 13th minute; captain Gary Neville
swung in a pin-point cross from deep on the right side and Rooney nodded the ball past Christian Abbiati
for his ninth consecutive headed goal. The score remained at 1–0 going into half-time, but Rooney doubled the lead within a minute of the restart, sliding the ball under the advancing Abbiati after Nani
had played him in with a perfectly-weighted cross with the outside of his right foot. Park Ji-Sung
made it three on the night with a low shot to the far corner of the net after Scholes played him in with a disguised pass in the 59th minute. Beckham came on to rapturous applause five minutes later, and forced a save from Edwin van der Sar
with a powerful volley from the edge of the area, but Darren Fletcher
sealed a 4–0 win (7–2 on aggregate) with a header from Rafael
's deep cross.
The draw for the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final took place in Nyon on 19 March 2010. Unlike the round of 16 draw, there was no seeding or country protection in this draw, meaning that United could be drawn against fellow English side Arsenal
or their Group B opponents CSKA Moscow. However, they were eventually drawn against Group A runners-up Bayern Munich
, who they had famously played in the 1999 final
. The first leg of the quarter-final will be played on 30 March 2010, while the second leg will be played a week later on 7 April. The semi-final draw took place immediately after the quarter-final draw, and United and Bayern were paired with the winners of the all-French quarter-final between Lyon
and Bordeaux
.
United got off to the perfect start as Wayne Rooney
scored after just 64 seconds in the first leg at the Allianz Arena
against Bayern. However, for the remainder of the game United were poor and Bayern looked very likely to score an equaliser. That the equaliser came was no surprise, but that it took over 70 minutes to come was. Franck Ribéry
fired a free-kick which took a deflection off Rooney and into the back of the net. United managed to hold on until deep into injury-time when Ivica Olić
scored from close range after Patrice Evra
dithered on the ball. To make matters worse, Wayne Rooney
was injured in the build-up to the late winner and was reported to be unavailable for the return leg at Old Trafford eight days later.
However, the second leg saw Wayne Rooney get a surprise start after Sir Alex had claimed that he wouldn't risk making the injury any worse. The striker got involved early by setting up Darron Gibson's third minute goal to give United the advantage. Four minutes later, Nani scored a second with a clever flick set up by Antonio Valencia. Nani netted again with a strike from range after Rooney had failed to control Rafael's cross. With a two goal advantage on aggregate and an away goal from the first leg, United were in the driving seat but a close range goal from Olić before half time altered the mood, meaning that Bayern only needed one more goal to be heading through. In the second half, an early sending off for Rafael weakened the side and chances came few and far between, especially as Nani was left to play alone up front following Rooney being substituted for John O'Shea. The reds came close to perhaps sealing the game when Evra put Nani through on goal, but the winger was unable to beat the goalkeeper. With quarter of an hour to go, Arjen Robben
volleyed into the low left hand corner and put Bayern Munich back in the driving seat, levelling the aggregate score. The score remained the same until the end and United were knocked out on away goals.
Statistics accurate as of match played 9 May 2010
to Real Madrid
. Shortly after this, they confirmed that Carlos Tévez
, who had been on loan with the club for two seasons, had not taken up the offer of a permanent contract. Tévez would later sign for United's local rivals, Manchester City
. Lee Martin, Fraizer Campbell
, Richard Eckersley
and Manucho
also left the club.
After the departures of Ronaldo and Tévez, United sought a new striker, and Karim Benzema
(who eventually signed for Real Madrid
) was one player they courted. Despite the record deal for Ronaldo, United opted for a cheaper deal in the end, signing free agent
Michael Owen
after his contract with Newcastle United
had expired. The signing of a former Liverpool
star caused some consternation amongst supporters of both clubs. Antonio Valencia and Gabriel Obertan
also joined, and Alex Ferguson
announced that his buying for the transfer window was over. However, a few days later, Mame Biram Diouf
also signed; the club explained that Diouf was originally going to sign in the next January transfer window, but that they had hurried the signing after other clubs became interested in the player.
In the winter transfer window, Danny Simpson
left for Newcastle United
. Goalkeeper Ben Foster
left in May, signing for Birmingham City
. Both Simpson and Foster left for undisclosed fees.
Football in England
Association football is a national sport in England, where the first modern set of rules for the code were established in 1863, which were a major influence on the development of the modern Laws of the Game...
. Having equalled Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
's record of 18 English league titles the previous season, Manchester United were looking to break that record with an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title in 2009–10, but they were ultimately beaten to the title by Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
by a single point. They also had the chance to be the first team to reach three consecutive Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
finals since Juventus
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
in 1998
1998 UEFA Champions League Final
The 1998 UEFA Champions League Final took place at the Amsterdam ArenA in Amsterdam on 20 May 1998. Spanish club Real Madrid defeated Italian side Juventus 1–0 to clinch their seventh European title, the sixth being in 1966.-Match details:...
, but they were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
.
On 28 February 2010, United won the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
for the second season in a row, defeating Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
2–1 at Wembley
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
. In doing so, they became the first club to successfully defend the trophy since Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
in 1990, and the third club to do so overall, after Forest (1989 and 1990) and Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
(1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984). It was United's fourth League Cup title, and their third in five years. It was the first time United had ever successfully defended a domestic cup. They were, however, knocked out of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
in the third round after a surprise 1–0 home loss to fierce rivals Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
.
Pre-season friendlies
Manchester United announced the first four fixtures of their 2009 pre-season schedule on 14 January 2009, with the team touring Asia for the seventh time since 1995. The 22-man squad first headed out to Malaysia on 16 July 2009, in time for their first fixture two days later against a Malaysia XIMalaysia League XI
Malaysia League XI is a football team which represents Malaysia to participate in exhibitional matches...
at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium
National Stadium, Bukit Jalil
Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, located in the National Sports Complex to the south of the capital city of Malaysia Kuala Lumpur, is a 87,411 capacity all-seater, multi-purpose stadium that was built in 1998 to host the 1998 Commonwealth Games.-History:The stadium was built in 1...
in Bukit Jalil
Bukit Jalil
Bukit Jalil is a suburb about 20 km. south of Kuala Lumpur. It is a small suburb bounded by the National Sports Complex on the east, the Shah Alam Expressway on the north, city boundaries to the west, and the Puchong-Sungai Besi Highway as well as city boundaries to the south...
, Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
. United took a 2–0 lead in the first half-hour through Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
and Nani
Nani
-People:*Nani, a Portuguese footballer who plays for Manchester United*Gianluca Nani, former technical director at West Ham United*Nanabhoy Palkhivala, nicknamed Nani, an Indian jurist and economist*Nani Roma, a Spanish rally racing driver...
, but Mohd Amri Yahyah
Mohd Amri Yahyah
Mohd Amri Yahyah is a Malaysian footballer who is a versatile player, who can operate as a striker and midfielder. Recently, he has been playing as attacking midfielder for team Selangor FA.-Career:...
pulled one back on the stroke of half-time before pulling the sides level seven minutes into the second half. Michael Owen
Michael Owen
Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997...
then scored his first goal for Manchester United in the 85th minute to win the match for the club. The team was then scheduled to travel to Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, for the first time four days later, where they would play against an Indonesian Super League
Indonesian Super League
Indonesia Super League is the highest level of Liga Indonesia. ISL is a professional competition for football clubs in Indonesia. This competition is managed by PT Liga Indonesia, under supervision of the Football Association of Indonesia...
Select XI at the Bung Karno Stadium
Bung Karno Stadium
Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, officially Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Senayan, Central Jakarta, Indonesia. It is named after Sukarno, Indonesia's first President...
on 20 July. However, following the 2009 Jakarta bombings
2009 Jakarta bombings
At around 7:50 am local time on 17 July 2009, the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton Hotels in Jakarta, Indonesia, were hit by separate bombings five minutes apart. Three of the seven victims who were killed were Australians, two from The Netherlands, and one each from New Zealand and Indonesia. More...
on 17 July, the club cancelled the match. Instead, the team played a second match against the Malaysia XI at Bukit Jalil on 20 July, which they won 2–0 with goals from Federico Macheda
Federico Macheda
Federico "Kiko" Macheda is an Italian footballer who plays as a striker for English Premier League club Manchester United. He joined Manchester United from Lazio in September 2007.-Early career:Macheda began his football career with Lazio...
and Michael Owen in the first 15 minutes.
They then flew to South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
for a match against FC Seoul
FC Seoul
FC Seoul is a South Korean professional football club based in Seoul, South Korea, that plays in the K-League. It is currently owned by GS Sports, a subsidiary of GS Group....
at the Seoul World Cup Stadium
Seoul World Cup Stadium
The Seoul World Cup Stadium, also known as Sangam Stadium, is located in Seongsan, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It was built for the 2002 FIFA World Cup and opened in 2001. It was designed to represent the image of a traditional Korean kite...
on 24 July. After going into the half-time interval 2–1 down, goals from Federico Macheda and Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United. He captained the Bulgarian national team from 2006 to 2010, and is its all-time leading goalscorer and has also won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a record seven times, surpassing the number of...
led United to a 3–2 win. The final match of the tour was played in China on 26 July 2009 against Hangzhou Greentown at the Yellow Dragon Stadium in Hangzhou
Hangzhou
Hangzhou , formerly transliterated as Hangchow, is the capital and largest city of Zhejiang Province in Eastern China. Governed as a sub-provincial city, and as of 2010, its entire administrative division or prefecture had a registered population of 8.7 million people...
, Zhejiang
Zhejiang
Zhejiang is an eastern coastal province of the People's Republic of China. The word Zhejiang was the old name of the Qiantang River, which passes through Hangzhou, the provincial capital...
. Although it took more than a quarter of the match before the first goal came, they then began to flow thick and fast as Michael Owen scored a brace, Dimitar Berbatov, Zoran Tošić
Zoran Tošic
Zoran Tošić is a Serbian footballer who plays as a left winger for CSKA Moscow. Born in Zrenjanin, Tošić began his career with his local side Proleter Zrenjanin. He then joined Budućnost Banatski Dvor, who then merged with Proleter to form Banat Zrenjanin...
and Nani got one each, and Ryan Giggs
Ryan Giggs
Ryan Joseph Giggs OBE is a Welsh professional footballer who plays for Manchester United. Giggs made his first appearance for the club during the 1990–91 season and has been a regular player since the 1991–92 season...
scored a hat-trick from the bench to secure an 8–2 win.
En route from returning from East Asia
East Asia
East Asia or Eastern Asia is a subregion of Asia that can be defined in either geographical or cultural terms...
, the United team travelled to Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
to take part in the Audi Cup
Audi Cup
The Audi Cup is a two-day pre-season football tournament that features four teams, and is staged at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, before the start of the Bundesliga season. The competition's first edition in 2009 was organised and promoted by car manufacturer Audi AG to celebrate their...
on 29 July and 30 July 2009. The tournament, organised to celebrate Audi
Audi
Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer, from supermini to crossover SUVs in various body styles and price ranges that are marketed under the Audi brand , positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group....
's 100th year in business, featured the hosts Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
, as well as Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
and Boca Juniors. Four matches were played at the Allianz Arena
Allianz Arena
The Allianz Arena is a football stadium in the north of Munich, Bavaria, Germany. The two professional Munich football clubs FC Bayern Munich and TSV 1860 München have played their home games at Allianz Arena since the start of the 2005–06 season...
in Munich over two days, with United first playing against Boca Juniors. With a 2–1 win featuring a maiden goal for Anderson
Anderson Luís de Abreu Oliveira
Anderson Luís de Abreu Oliveira , best known as Anderson, is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the Brazil national team....
and a debut goal for Antonio Valencia, United secured a place in the final against Bayern Munich the next day. Both sides played out a cagey goalless draw, meaning that the match went straight to penalties. The score reached 6–6 after seven penalties each before Jonny Evans
Jonny Evans
Jonathan Grant "Jonny" Evans is a Northern Irish footballer who plays as a defender for Manchester United and Northern Ireland. Evans was born in Belfast and started his career at Greenisland FC, where he was spotted by Manchester United scouts. He progressed through Manchester United's football...
saw his kick saved by Michael Rensing
Michael Rensing
Michael Rensing is a German footballer who currently plays for 1. FC Köln.-Early career:Born of a German father and a Serbian mother, Rensing joined Bayern in 2000 from TuS Lingen, and went on to develop his talent in the club's youth sides.He spent the 2002–03 season in the German Regionalliga...
, allowing Daniel Van Buyten to seal the win for the host team. After returning to England, United played their final friendly of the summer at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
against Valencia
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
on 5 August 2009. Second half goals from Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
and Tom Cleverley
Tom Cleverley
Thomas William "Tom" Cleverley is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder in the Premier League for Manchester United....
secured a 2–0 win.
| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F – A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 July 2009 | Malaysia XI Malaysia League XI Malaysia League XI is a football team which represents Malaysia to participate in exhibitional matches... |
N National Stadium, Bukit Jalil Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, located in the National Sports Complex to the south of the capital city of Malaysia Kuala Lumpur, is a 87,411 capacity all-seater, multi-purpose stadium that was built in 1998 to host the 1998 Commonwealth Games.-History:The stadium was built in 1... |
3 – 2 | Rooney Wayne Rooney Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team... 8', Nani Nani -People:*Nani, a Portuguese footballer who plays for Manchester United*Gianluca Nani, former technical director at West Ham United*Nanabhoy Palkhivala, nicknamed Nani, an Indian jurist and economist*Nani Roma, a Spanish rally racing driver... 28', Owen Michael Owen Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997... 85' |
85,000 |
| 20 July 2009 | Malaysia XI Malaysia League XI Malaysia League XI is a football team which represents Malaysia to participate in exhibitional matches... |
N National Stadium, Bukit Jalil Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, located in the National Sports Complex to the south of the capital city of Malaysia Kuala Lumpur, is a 87,411 capacity all-seater, multi-purpose stadium that was built in 1998 to host the 1998 Commonwealth Games.-History:The stadium was built in 1... |
2 – 0 | Macheda Federico Macheda Federico "Kiko" Macheda is an Italian footballer who plays as a striker for English Premier League club Manchester United. He joined Manchester United from Lazio in September 2007.-Early career:Macheda began his football career with Lazio... 11', Owen Michael Owen Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997... 13' |
30,000 |
| 24 July 2009 | FC Seoul FC Seoul FC Seoul is a South Korean professional football club based in Seoul, South Korea, that plays in the K-League. It is currently owned by GS Sports, a subsidiary of GS Group.... |
A | 3 – 2 | Rooney Wayne Rooney Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team... 31', Macheda Federico Macheda Federico "Kiko" Macheda is an Italian footballer who plays as a striker for English Premier League club Manchester United. He joined Manchester United from Lazio in September 2007.-Early career:Macheda began his football career with Lazio... 58', Berbatov Dimitar Berbatov Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United. He captained the Bulgarian national team from 2006 to 2010, and is its all-time leading goalscorer and has also won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a record seven times, surpassing the number of... 65' |
64,000 |
| 26 July 2009 | Hangzhou Greentown | A | 8 – 2 | Owen Michael Owen Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997... (2) 23', 39', Berbatov Dimitar Berbatov Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United. He captained the Bulgarian national team from 2006 to 2010, and is its all-time leading goalscorer and has also won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a record seven times, surpassing the number of... 30', Tošić Zoran Tošic Zoran Tošić is a Serbian footballer who plays as a left winger for CSKA Moscow. Born in Zrenjanin, Tošić began his career with his local side Proleter Zrenjanin. He then joined Budućnost Banatski Dvor, who then merged with Proleter to form Banat Zrenjanin... 32', Nani Nani -People:*Nani, a Portuguese footballer who plays for Manchester United*Gianluca Nani, former technical director at West Ham United*Nanabhoy Palkhivala, nicknamed Nani, an Indian jurist and economist*Nani Roma, a Spanish rally racing driver... 50', Giggs Ryan Giggs Ryan Joseph Giggs OBE is a Welsh professional footballer who plays for Manchester United. Giggs made his first appearance for the club during the 1990–91 season and has been a regular player since the 1991–92 season... (3) 71', 81', 88' |
30,000 |
| 29 July 2009 | Boca Juniors | N Allianz Arena The Allianz Arena is a football stadium in the north of Munich, Bavaria, Germany. The two professional Munich football clubs FC Bayern Munich and TSV 1860 München have played their home games at Allianz Arena since the start of the 2005–06 season... |
2 – 1 | Anderson Anderson Luís de Abreu Oliveira Anderson Luís de Abreu Oliveira , best known as Anderson, is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the Brazil national team.... 23', Valencia 42' |
61,000 |
| 30 July 2009 | Bayern Munich FC Bayern Munich FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups.... |
A | 0 – 0 (6 – 7p) |
69,000 | |
| 5 August 2009 | Valencia Valencia CF Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the... |
H | 2 – 0 | Rooney Wayne Rooney Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team... 52', Cleverley Tom Cleverley Thomas William "Tom" Cleverley is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder in the Premier League for Manchester United.... 73' |
74,311 |
FA Community Shield
As 2008–09 Premier League champions, United kicked off the 2009–10 season with the traditional annual curtain-raiser, the 2009 FA Community Shield2009 FA Community Shield
The 2009 FA Community Shield was the 87th FA Community Shield, an annual football match contested by the winners of the previous season's Premier League and FA Cup competitions...
, on 9 August 2009, when they played against 2008–09 FA Cup winners Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
. Portuguese international Nani
Nani
-People:*Nani, a Portuguese footballer who plays for Manchester United*Gianluca Nani, former technical director at West Ham United*Nanabhoy Palkhivala, nicknamed Nani, an Indian jurist and economist*Nani Roma, a Spanish rally racing driver...
opened the scoring for United in the 10th minute, but Chelsea equalised through his compatriot Ricardo Carvalho
Ricardo Carvalho
Ricardo Alberto Silveira de Carvalho OIH , is a footballer who plays as a centre back for Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid.Carvalho was born in Amarante where he played for the local team, Amarante Futebol Clube. By his great performance as a youngster, he was spotted by the Portuguese powerhouse,...
seven minutes into the second half. Chelsea then took the lead through a controversial Frank Lampard
Frank Lampard
Frank James Lampard is an English professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Chelsea and the England national team. He also holds the position of vice-captain for his club side...
goal in the 70th minute; with Manchester United in possession, Michael Ballack
Michael Ballack
Michael Ballack is a German professional footballer, who is currently playing for Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen. He is among the top goal scorers in the history of his international team. Ballack has worn the number 13 shirt for every team he has played for except for Kaiserslautern...
body-checked Patrice Evra
Patrice Evra
Patrice Latyr Evra is a French international footballer who currently plays for English club Manchester United in the Premier League and the France national team. Originally an attacker, he primarily plays as a left back and is described as "the classic example of a modern full-back" who is...
only for the referee to play advantage. With Evra still on the floor, possession then changed leaving United short-handed in defence, allowing Lampard to shoot past Ben Foster
Ben Foster (footballer)
Benjamin Anthony "Ben" Foster is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for West Bromwich Albion, on loan from Birmingham City, and internationally for the England national team.-Stoke City:...
in the United goal. With Chelsea leading as the match went into injury time, Ryan Giggs
Ryan Giggs
Ryan Joseph Giggs OBE is a Welsh professional footballer who plays for Manchester United. Giggs made his first appearance for the club during the 1990–91 season and has been a regular player since the 1991–92 season...
played in Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
, who lifted the ball over the onrushing Petr Čech
Petr Cech
Petr Čech is a Czech footballer who plays for Chelsea and the Czech Republic as a goalkeeper. Čech previously played for Viktoria Plzeň, Chmel Blšany, Sparta Prague, and Rennes. He was voted into the all-star team of Euro 2004 after helping his country reach the semi-finals...
to take the match to penalties. Lampard opened the scoring in the shootout, only for Ryan Giggs to have his kick down the middle of the goal saved by the feet of Čech. Ballack, Carrick
Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the England national team. He has made more than 300 Premier League appearances and played in 50 UEFA Champions League games as of April 2011...
and Drogba
Didier Drogba
Didier Yves Drogba Tébily is an Ivorian footballer who plays in the centre forward position. He currently plays for Chelsea in the Premier League, where he is deputy vice-captain, and is the captain and all-time top scorer of the Côte d'Ivoire national football team...
all converted before Evra's tame effort was held by Čech. That left Salomon Kalou
Salomon Kalou
Salomon Armand Magloire Kalou is an Ivorian footballer who plays as a striker for Chelsea in the Premier League.He is often used on the wings at Chelsea. He has a preference for playing on the left wing as this gives him opportunities to cut inside and take shots with his favoured right foot...
with the opportunity to win the game for Chelsea, which he took with aplomb, smashing the ball into the top corner of the goal. If Manchester United had won, it would have made them the first team to win the FA Community Shield
FA Community Shield
The Football Association Community Shield is English football's annual match contested between the champions of the previous Premier League season and the holders of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium. If the Premier League champions also won the FA Cup then the league runners-up provide the opposition...
outright three times in a row.
| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F – A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 August 2009 | Chelsea Chelsea F.C. Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four... |
N Wembley Stadium The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007... |
2 – 2 (1 – 4p) |
Nani Nani -People:*Nani, a Portuguese footballer who plays for Manchester United*Gianluca Nani, former technical director at West Ham United*Nanabhoy Palkhivala, nicknamed Nani, an Indian jurist and economist*Nani Roma, a Spanish rally racing driver... 10', Rooney Wayne Rooney Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team... 90+2' |
85,896 |
Premier League
The 2009–10 Premier League fixtures were released on 17 June 2009, with Manchester United opening their campaign against ChampionshipFootball League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
runners-up Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
on 16 August 2009. Despite missing several of their first-choice defenders
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
and goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar
Edwin van der Sar
Edwin van der Sar OON is a former footballer who played as a goalkeeper for AFC Ajax, Juventus, Fulham and Manchester United. He is the most capped player in the Netherlands national football team's history...
, United won the match 1–0 with a first-half goal from Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
. The goal came in the 34th minute, when Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United. He captained the Bulgarian national team from 2006 to 2010, and is its all-time leading goalscorer and has also won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a record seven times, surpassing the number of...
released Nani
Nani
-People:*Nani, a Portuguese footballer who plays for Manchester United*Gianluca Nani, former technical director at West Ham United*Nanabhoy Palkhivala, nicknamed Nani, an Indian jurist and economist*Nani Roma, a Spanish rally racing driver...
down the left. The Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
international then crossed for Rooney, whose header ricocheted back off the post to him, allowing him to tap in with Hart beaten.
Three days later, the Red Devils suffered their first defeat of the season, going down by a single goal at Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
. Still missing key players at the back, United went behind after 19 minutes, as Robbie Blake
Robbie Blake
Robert James "Robbie" Blake is an English footballer, currently playing for Bolton Wanderers in the Barclays Premier League...
hit a volley into the top corner of the net after Stephen Jordan
Stephen Jordan
Stephen Robert Jordan is an English footballer who plays as a defender currently at Rochdale A.F.C.. He numbers Manchester City, Burnley and Sheffield United amongst his former clubs.-Manchester City:...
's cross was only half-cleared by Patrice Evra
Patrice Evra
Patrice Latyr Evra is a French international footballer who currently plays for English club Manchester United in the Premier League and the France national team. Originally an attacker, he primarily plays as a left back and is described as "the classic example of a modern full-back" who is...
. Blake himself conceded a penalty on the stroke of half-time, but Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the England national team. He has made more than 300 Premier League appearances and played in 50 UEFA Champions League games as of April 2011...
had his kick saved by Brian Jensen, low to the goalkeeper's right. As the Reds – wearing their all-black change strip – searched for an equaliser, the final ball kept evading them and several promising moves came to nothing, leaving United to endure a defeat.
After the mid-week setback, United returned to winning ways at the weekend, beating Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
5–0 at the DW Stadium on 22 August. Despite a goalless first half, Wayne Rooney scored his 100th and 101st goals for Manchester United, either side of one from Dimitar Berbatov. Michael Owen
Michael Owen
Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997...
scored his first competitive goal for the club five minutes from full time, before Nani made it five with a free-kick in the second minute of injury time.
United faced their first "big four" opposition of the season on 29 August, when they hosted Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
at Old Trafford. Arsenal opened the scoring five minutes from the end of the first half through Andrei Arshavin; the Russian playmaker had been denied a penalty claim moments earlier, but then picked the ball up from Denílson
Denílson Pereira Neves
Denílson Pereira Neves is a Brazilian footballer who plays for São Paulo as a midfielder, on loan from Arsenal. He is the former captain of the Brazil national under-17 team.-Early life:...
just outside the penalty area and fired a 25-yard strike past Ben Foster
Ben Foster (footballer)
Benjamin Anthony "Ben" Foster is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for West Bromwich Albion, on loan from Birmingham City, and internationally for the England national team.-Stoke City:...
. Wayne Rooney won a penalty for Manchester United in the 59th minute, knocking Ryan Giggs
Ryan Giggs
Ryan Joseph Giggs OBE is a Welsh professional footballer who plays for Manchester United. Giggs made his first appearance for the club during the 1990–91 season and has been a regular player since the 1991–92 season...
' through-ball past Manuel Almunia
Manuel Almunia
Manuel Almunia Rivero is a professional footballer. He plays as a goalkeeper for Arsenal.-Early career:Born in Pamplona, Navarre, Almunia started his senior career with Osasuna's reserve team in 1997, playing two seasons with the team in Segunda División B...
, who brought the English striker down. Rooney then stepped up to take the penalty himself, and slotted it home to the 'keeper's left. Arsenal responded with a free-kick from Robin van Persie
Robin van Persie
Robin van Persie is a Dutch footballer who plays as a striker for Arsenal and the Dutch national team. He is a youth product of Feyenoord. Having joined Arsenal in 2004, Van Persie became the club captain on 16 August 2011...
that hit the crossbar, but a United attack immediately afterwards produced a similar free kick, taken by Ryan Giggs, which Abou Diaby
Abou Diaby
Vassiriki Abou Diaby , commonly known as Abou Diaby, is a French footballer who plays for English club Arsenal in the Premier League and the France national team...
headed into his own net. With the final attack of the game, deep into the fifth minute of injury time, Arsenal had the ball in the net again, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside against William Gallas
William Gallas
William Eric Gallas is a French footballer who plays for Tottenham Hotspur.Gallas began his career in France, before being signed by English club Chelsea in 2001. He transferred to rivals Arsenal as part of an exchange deal in 2006...
, and the match finished 2–1 to United. For his show of frustration with the offside decision – kicking a water bottle down the touchline – Arsène Wenger
Arsène Wenger
Arsène Wenger, OBE is a French association football manager and former player, who has managed English Premier League side Arsenal since 1996...
was sent off.
After a two-week break for internationals, United returned to Premier League action with an away match against Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
. Despite United having their first-choice centre-back partnership together for the first time since the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final
2009 UEFA Champions League Final
The 2009 UEFA Champions League Final was played on 27 May 2009 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy. The match determined the winners of the 2008–09 season of the UEFA Champions League, a tournament for the top football clubs in Europe. The match was won by Barcelona of Spain, who beat England's...
, Spurs took the lead after 38 seconds through a Jermain Defoe
Jermain Defoe
Jermain Colin Defoe is an English footballer who plays as a striker for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, and the England national football team....
bicycle kick. Ryan Giggs levelled the scores in the 25th minute, curling a free kick past Carlo Cudicini
Carlo Cudicini
Carlo Cudicini is an Italian goalkeeper who currently plays for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur. In his 10 years at Chelsea he established himself as one of England's best goalkeepers before injury and the arrival of Petr Cech displaced him as first-choice...
in the Tottenham goal, before Anderson
Anderson Luís de Abreu Oliveira
Anderson Luís de Abreu Oliveira , best known as Anderson, is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the Brazil national team....
gave United the lead with his first competitive goal for the club. In the space of 10 minutes in the second half, Paul Scholes received two yellow cards and was sent off, although the second booking was controversial and later criticised by manager Alex Ferguson. Nevertheless, despite being reduced to ten men, the Red Devils increased their lead to 3–1 as Wayne Rooney slotted the ball through Cudicini's legs for the final goal of the game – Rooney's fifth in five league matches. The result took United to second place in the league table, behind unbeaten Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
and ahead of Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
, who had a game in hand. Giggs' goal continued his record of having scored a League goal in every Premier League season since the Premier League began in 1992-93, the only player to have done so.
Five days after playing against Beşiktaş
Besiktas J.K.
Beşiktaş Jimnastik Kulübü , or simply Beşiktaş , is a Turkish sports club. The club's football team is one of the major teams in Turkey. The professional sports club, founded in 1903, is based in the Beşiktaş district in Istanbul, Turkey...
in Turkey, United returned to England for a home match against Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
, the first Manchester derby
Manchester derby
The Manchester derby is the name given to football matches between Manchester City and Manchester United. The local derby centres on the City of Manchester and Greater Manchester with approximately four miles separating the clubs with City based in east Manchester at the City of Manchester Stadium...
of the season. Despite having only just recovered from a knee injury, Carlos Tévez
Carlos Tévez
Carlos Alberto Tévez is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for English club Manchester City...
was picked to start against his former team by City manager Mark Hughes
Mark Hughes
Leslie Mark Hughes, OBE , is a former Welsh international footballer. As an international footballer, he made 72 appearances and scored 16 goals....
(himself a former Manchester United striker). United drew first blood, as Wayne Rooney, in the second minute, scored his sixth goal in as many league games, but Gareth Barry
Gareth Barry
Gareth Barry is an English footballer who plays for Manchester City and the England national football team.Barry moved to Aston Villa from Brighton & Hove Albion as a youngster, and spent 12 years at the club. He captained Aston Villa, and, at the end of his career with the club, lay eighth in...
equalised for City less than 15 minutes later after Tévez had forced an error from Ben Foster
Ben Foster (footballer)
Benjamin Anthony "Ben" Foster is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for West Bromwich Albion, on loan from Birmingham City, and internationally for the England national team.-Stoke City:...
in the United goal. The score remained at 1–1 going into half-time, but no sooner than Darren Fletcher
Darren Fletcher
Darren Barr Fletcher is a Scottish footballer who plays as a central midfielder for English Premier League club Manchester United. He is the current captain of Scottish national team...
had restored United's lead, heading in a Ryan Giggs cross four minutes after the break, Craig Bellamy
Craig Bellamy
Craig Douglas Bellamy is a Welsh footballer who plays as a striker for Liverpool and the Welsh national team. Born in Cardiff, Bellamy was the captain of the Welsh national side for four years after taking over from Ryan Giggs in 2007, but stood down in January 2011 due to constant injuries...
drew City level again as Park Ji-Sung
Park Ji-Sung
Park Ji-Sung is a South Korean footballer who plays as a midfielder for English club Manchester United. He was also the captain of the South Korean national team until his retirement from international football...
was drawn away by the run of Tévez. After Berbatov had twice been denied by saves from Shay Given
Shay Given
Séamus John James "Shay" Given is an Irish footballer who plays for Aston Villa and the Republic of Ireland national team as a goalkeeper. He won the PFA's Player of the Year in 2002....
, the Bulgarian striker was withdrawn for Michael Owen with 13 minutes left to play. Giggs again provided a cross for Fletcher to head United 3–2 up three minutes later, but with 10 seconds of normal time left to play, Martin Petrov
Martin Petrov
Martin Petyov Petrov is a Bulgarian footballer, currently playing for Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League.-Club career:Petrov began his career for Botev Vratsa...
was gifted possession by Rio Ferdinand
Rio Ferdinand
Rio Gavin Ferdinand is an English footballer. He plays at centre back for Manchester United in the Premier League and for the England national football team...
and played Bellamy in, who scored past the onrushing Foster. The fourth official had already indicated that a minimum of four minutes would be added on to the 90 to account for stoppages, but Bellamy's goal celebration and United's substitution of Carrick for Anderson meant that more would have to be played. Then, in the sixth minute of added time, Giggs played a through-ball for Owen, who clipped the ball over Shay Given to clinch a last-gasp 4–3 win that temporarily sent the home side to the top of the table. Mark Hughes later expressed his aggravation at the fact that United's winning goal had come almost 90 seconds after the added time indicated by the fourth official had elapsed, and television analysis also showed that the referee should have signalled the end of the game one second before Owen's goal had crossed the line.
The following weekend, United made the trip to Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
to take on Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
at the Britannia Stadium
Britannia Stadium
The Britannia Stadium is an all-seater football stadium in Stoke-on-Trent, England and the home of Premier League club Stoke City Football Club. With space for 27,598 spectators . The name is taken from the sponsors of the Stadium the Britannia Co-operative Bank...
. After a goalless first half, Ryan Giggs was brought on in place of Nani ten minutes into the second half, and had an almost-immediate impact. Darren Fletcher played a through-ball into the penalty area and into the path of Giggs, who then played a square ball across the edge of the six-yard box to Dimitar Berbatov, allowing the Bulgarian a simple finish. With 15 minutes left to play, Fletcher was bundled over by Rory Delap
Rory Delap
Rory John Delap is an English born Irish footballer who plays for Stoke City. He has played eleven times for the Republic of Ireland national football team....
on the right side of the penalty area. The left-footed Giggs crossed the consequent free-kick into the penalty area, where John O'Shea
John O'Shea
John O'Shea can refer to:*John O'Shea, Irish footballer with Sunderland*John O'Shea , New Zealand film director*John O'Shea *John O'Shea , Wales international rugby union footballer*John O'Shea...
rose above his marker, Danny Collins
Danny Collins
Daniel Lewis "Danny" Collins is a Welsh footballer currently playing for Ipswich Town on loan from Stoke City. Collins also plays for the Wales national football team as a defender....
, to head the ball past Thomas Sørensen
Thomas Sørensen
Thomas Løvendahl Sørensen is a Danish professional football goalkeeper, who plays for Premier League club Stoke City. He has previously represented Premiership teams Sunderland and Aston Villa....
in the Stoke goal. The match finished at 2–0 and, combined with Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
's 3–1 defeat by Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
the same day, the result meant that United finished the weekend on top of the league for the first time in the season.
The league schedule took United back to Old Trafford for their next game against Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
on 3 October. United were one of four teams still protecting a 100% home record in 2009–10, but it was Sunderland who took the lead after seven minutes, as Darren Bent
Darren Bent
Darren Ashley Bent is an English footballer who plays for Aston Villa as a striker.Bent started his career with Ipswich Town. After progressing through their youth system he made his first team debut in 2001. He made 122 appearances and scored 48 goals in the league for Ipswich, before joining...
beat Ben Foster from outside the penalty area. It took United until five minutes into the second half to equalise: Dimitar Berbatov volleying John O'Shea's cross home with a bicycle kick. However, parity was short-lived as Kenwyne Jones
Kenwyne Jones
Kenwyne Joel Jones is a Trinidadian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Stoke City and the Trinidad and Tobago national team. He previously played for Sunderland, Southampton, Stoke City, Sheffield Wednesday, W Connection and Joe Public.He began his football...
scored for the Black Cats just seven minutes later. The Sunderland striker went up for a header with Foster, but the two collided and the ball came off the Trinidadian and trickled into the empty net. With six minutes remaining in normal time, Sunderland's former Manchester United winger Kieran Richardson
Kieran Richardson
Kieran Edward Richardson is an English footballer currently playing for Sunderland. He is naturally a left winger, but has proven to a extremely versatile; having also played as a left back, right winger, central midfielder and recently as a support striker...
was sent off for dissent, leading to a second yellow card. This allowed pressure from Manchester United to mount, and in the fourth minute of injury time, a shot across the face of goal from Patrice Evra was turned into the Sunderland goal by defender Anton Ferdinand
Anton Ferdinand
Anton Julian Ferdinand is an English footballer who plays for Queens Park Rangers as a defender. He is the brother of Manchester United and England centre-back Rio Ferdinand and the cousin of former England striker Les Ferdinand and Southend United defender Kane Ferdinand. Like his brother, Anton...
– brother of United defender Rio. The 2–2 result maintained United's unbeaten home record for the season and gave them a one-point lead at the top of the table. However, they dropped back down to second place after Chelsea beat Liverpool the following day.
Another international break followed in the middle of October, from which Wayne Rooney returned with a calf strain, ruling him out of United's next fixture against Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
on 17 October. However, Edwin van der Sar
Edwin van der Sar
Edwin van der Sar OON is a former footballer who played as a goalkeeper for AFC Ajax, Juventus, Fulham and Manchester United. He is the most capped player in the Netherlands national football team's history...
recovered from his hand injury to make his first appearance of the season, while Berbatov returned from the birth of his first child in Bulgaria to partner Michael Owen up front. A header from Owen, diverted into the net by Zat Knight
Zat Knight
Zatyiah "Zat" Knight is an English footballer who plays for Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League. Knight has two caps for England.-Club career:-Fulham:Fulham signed Knight from Rushall Olympic on a free transfer in 1999...
, gave United the lead in the fifth minute, before Antonio Valencia doubled the lead just after the half-hour mark. The Ecuadorian winger played a one-two with Gary Neville
Gary Neville
Gary Alexander Neville is a former English footballer. He is England's most capped right-back and was Manchester United's club captain for five years....
to work his way into the penalty area, and then fired the ball past Jussi Jääskeläinen
Jussi Jääskeläinen
Jussi Albert Jääskeläinen is a Finnish football goalkeeper, who plays for Bolton Wanderers.-Club career:Jääskeläinen was born in Mikkeli, and made his Veikkausliiga debut in Finland for MP Mikkeli in 1992, and became the club's first choice goalkeeper in 1994. In 1996, he moved to VPS Vaasa where...
. Matthew Taylor
Matthew Taylor (footballer)
Matthew Simon "Matty" Taylor is an English footballer who plays for West Ham United. He is noted for his powerful long-range strikes.-Early career:...
pulled a goal back for Bolton, heading home a cross from Kevin Davies
Kevin Davies
Kevin Cyril Davies is an English footballer who currently plays for Bolton Wanderers and the England national football team as a striker. He was made Bolton team captain in January 2009....
, but it turned out to be the last goal of the game, and United won 2–1. Following Chelsea's 2–1 defeat by Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
earlier in the day, United's win sent them back to the top of the league table.
After returning from a trip to Moscow in the Champions League in mid-week, United travelled down the M62
M62 motorway
The M62 motorway is a west–east trans-Pennine motorway in Northern England, connecting the cities of Liverpool and Hull via Manchester and Leeds. The road also forms part of the unsigned Euroroutes E20 and E22...
to take on Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
in the first North West derby of the season on 25 October. In the build-up to the game, much media attention had been spent on the fitness of Wayne Rooney, who had missed the club's last two games, and the prospect of Michael Owen facing his former club in Manchester United colours for the first time. Rooney was passed fit on the morning of the game, meaning that Owen started on the bench, while Giggs and Evra also started after missing the match against CSKA Moscow. Liverpool and their manager Rafael Benitez
Rafael Benítez
Rafael "Rafa" Benítez Maudes is a football manager, and former player. He is currently unemployed, after leaving as manager of Internazionale in December 2010....
went into the game under great pressure, as they had lost their previous four games and were on the verge of their worst losing streak in 56 years. Liverpool had also been struggling with injuries, with Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard
Steven George Gerrard MBE is an English footballer who plays for and captains Premier League club Liverpool. He also has 89 caps for the England national team. He has played much of his career in a centre midfielder role, but he has also been used as a second striker and right winger...
, Glen Johnson and Fernando Torres
Fernando Torres
Fernando José Torres Sanz , nicknamed , is a Spanish footballer who plays for Chelsea and the Spain national team as a striker....
all doubtful for the starting line-up. Gerrard was eventually deemed not to be fit enough to play, but Johnson and Torres both started, and it was the Spanish striker who opened the scoring in the 65th minute. Yossi Benayoun
Yossi Benayoun
Yosef Shai "Yossi" Benayoun is an Israeli international footballer who plays for Arsenal on loan from Chelsea.Benayoun plays as an attacking midfielder, often occupying the space just behind the striker. In Israel, he is sometimes nicknamed "The Diamond from Dimona". He is also the captain of the...
, in the side as Gerrard's deputy, played a through-ball to Torres, who outpaced Nemanja Vidić
Nemanja Vidic
Nemanja Vidić is a Serbian footballer who captains English Premier League club Manchester United. He was part of the Serbia national football team from 2002 to 2011....
before shrugging off the challenge of Rio Ferdinand and shooting past Van der Sar from a narrowing angle. A few minutes later, Michael Owen was brought on in place of Dimitar Berbatov to a chorus of boos from the Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
crowd, but the former Liverpool man was unable to turn the game in United's favour. He did manage to draw a foul by Jamie Carragher
Jamie Carragher
James Lee Duncan "Jamie" Carragher is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Premier League side Liverpool...
on the edge of the Liverpool penalty area, for which Carragher received a yellow card, although there were suggestions that the Liverpool captain was the last man and should have been sent off. Vidić was booked for an unnecessary foul on Torres in the 75th minute, and then committed a cynical foul on Dirk Kuyt
Dirk Kuyt
Dirk Kuyt is a Dutch footballer who plays for English club Liverpool. He started his career as a striker, but he has been converted into a winger and plays the position for both Liverpool and the Netherlands national team....
in the 90th, resulting in his third red card in as many matches against Liverpool. Deep into injury time, Javier Mascherano was also sent off for a second bookable offence – a rash tackle on Edwin van der Sar – but it was Liverpool who had the last word as David N'Gog
David N'Gog
David N'Gog is a French footballer who plays for Bolton Wanderers. He is the cousin of the Panathinaikos and French international player Jean-Alain Boumsong.-Paris Saint-Germain:...
sealed a 2–0 win with a goal in the sixth minute of injury time. Following Chelsea's win over Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
the day before, the result meant that United dropped back down to second place in the Premier League.
Injuries to Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidić kept them out of United's next league match against Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
on 31 October, meaning that Jonny Evans
Jonny Evans
Jonathan Grant "Jonny" Evans is a Northern Irish footballer who plays as a defender for Manchester United and Northern Ireland. Evans was born in Belfast and started his career at Greenisland FC, where he was spotted by Manchester United scouts. He progressed through Manchester United's football...
and Wes Brown
Wes Brown
Wesley Michael "Wes" Brown is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Sunderland. Before joining Sunderland, Brown had spent his entire career at Old Trafford, having joined the Manchester United youth team in 1996...
would continue their defensive partnership from the League Cup game against Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
in mid-week. Dimitar Berbatov found the back of the net in the first half, set up by a square pass from Wayne Rooney, but the goal was ruled out as Rooney was found to have been offside when Nani played him the ball in the build-up. The first legitimate goal of the game came 10 minutes into the second half: Patrice Evra hit a shot from well outside the area, but it was going well wide; Berbatov controlled the ball with one touch before swivelling and shooting into the bottom corner of Paul Robinson
Paul Robinson (goalkeeper)
Paul William Robinson is an English footballer who plays for Blackburn Rovers as a goalkeeper in the Premier League. He had also been an England international and he earned 41 caps between 2003 and 2007 before his retirement from international football in August 2010.He joined Leeds United at 16...
's goal. Rooney secured a 2–0 win for United three minutes from the end of normal time, following some neat wing play by Gabriel Obertan
Gabriel Obertan
Gabriel Antoine Obertan is a French footballer who plays for Newcastle United in the Premier League. He primarily plays as a winger, but can also play in the centre of midfield and as a striker....
– making his Premier League debut – and Anderson. The French winger made his way down the touchline before allowing the Brazilian to take over; Anderson hit a left-footed cross into the area, which Rooney met with a first-time shot. A win for Arsenal in the North London derby
North London derby
The North London derby is the name of the football local derby between the two major teams in North London – Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.-History:...
earlier in the day had pushed United down to third place in the Premier League table, but the victory over Blackburn returned the Red Devils to second place by the end of the day.
United then went to Stamford Bridge to play Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
. Despite having good levels of possession and playing well, United ultimately suffered a 1–0 defeat, following a John Terry
John Terry
John George Terry is an English professional footballer. Terry plays in a centre back position and is the captain of Chelsea in the Premier League...
goal fifteen minutes from time, which dropped them to third in the table.
Following the loss to Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
, United welcomed Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
to Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
on 21 November. With Berbatov out injured, this gave Michael Owen
Michael Owen
Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997...
a spot in the starting 11. Tomasz Kuszczak also started ahead of Ben Foster due to Van der Sar's injury. United had early chances but found it very difficult to put the ball in the back of the net. Everton created few chances and were saved by Leighton Baines
Leighton Baines
Leighton John Baines is an English footballer who plays for Everton and the England national football team.He started his career with Wigan Athletic, with whom he won the Second Division in the 2002–03 season and was a runner-up in the 2004–05 Championship and the 2006 Football League Cup Final....
and Joseph Yobo
Joseph Yobo
Joseph Yobo is a Nigerian footballer who plays as a centre back for Fenerbahçe, on loan from Everton. He is also an international for the Nigerian national team, for which he has 81 caps and currently captains....
in the first 20 minutes as the Toffees held on. United turned possession into goals in the 35th minute when Evra's cross was laid off by the head of Antonio Valencia to Darren Fletcher, who emphatically drilled home a spectacular half-volley past the outstretched and former Red Tim Howard
Tim Howard
Timothy Matthew Howard is an American soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for English club Everton and the United States national team....
in goal for the Merseysiders. Michael Owen had a half chance to extend the lead for United shortly before half time when he timed his run perfectly to stay onside and latch on to Wayne Rooney's skilful flick. However, he would have done well to score from the tight angle as Howard quickly rushed out to block his shot. Carrick doubled the champions' lead with a low left-foot drive; Giggs' cross found a way back to him after a poor shot from Rooney and took a few touches before he picked out an unmarked Carrick at the edge of the box. Valencia made it 3–0 eight minutes later with a deflected shot off Baines that wrong-footed Howard. Scholes laid it off to him as the Ecudorian made no mistake in wrapping up a comprehensive victory.
Still without their usual back four, the Red Devils then travelled south to a drenched Fratton Park
Fratton Park
Fratton Park is a football stadium in the English city-port of Portsmouth. It has been the home of professional club Portsmouth F.C. since its construction in 1898.-Description:...
to play rock-bottom Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
. Both Berbatov and Owen were left on the bench, meaning that Giggs and Rooney would start up front together for the first time in the season. Ben Foster's status as Manchester United's third-choice goalkeeper was also underlined as Kuszczak was selected in place of the injured Edwin van der Sar. The Pole was quickly called into action as Portsmouth began brightly, denying Aruna Dindane before an excellent acrobatic save to deny Jamie O'Hara. It took nearly half an hour before United had found the net. Rooney won a penalty after he was fouled by Michael Brown inside the penalty area; he himself stepped up to slot the resulting penalty home despite Asmir Begović
Asmir Begovic
Asmir Begović is a Bosnian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Stoke City and the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team....
tipping the curling ball. Parity was short-lived as Kevin-Prince Boateng
Kevin-Prince Boateng
Kevin Prince-Boateng , is a German-born Ghanaian footballer, who plays as a Midfielder for Serie A club A.C. Milan. He won nine caps from The Black Stars of Ghana after appearing for Germany's under-15s to their under-21s; he retired from international football on 4 November 2011.-Club career:A...
equalised for the hosts just eight minutes later via another penalty goal after Serbian international Nemanja Vidić clumsily fouled Frédéric Piquionne
Frédéric Piquionne
Frédéric Piquionne is a French football player who plays as a forward for West Ham United. His former clubs are Golden Star of Martinique, Nîmes Olympique, Rennes, AS Saint-Etienne, AS Monaco, Lyon and Portsmouth...
. Nevertheless, United put on a master-class during the second half, Wayne Rooney scoring his first hat-trick of the season with another penalty and a superb tap-in. Three minutes from time, Giggs bagged his 100th Premier League goal with a curling free kick on the eve of his 36th birthday.
Three days after a shock 1–0 home defeat to Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
, United were visited by Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
on 15 December. Wolves lasted 30 minutes before falling behind to a Wayne Rooney penalty which was awarded after Ronald Zubar
Ronald Zubar
Ronald Zubar is a French footballer of Guadeloupean descent who plays as a defender for Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers....
handled Darron Gibson's corner kick. Two minutes before the interval, Nemanja Vidić – skipper for the day – headed United to a 2–0 lead despite Marcus Hahnemann
Marcus Hahnemann
Marcus Stephen Hahnemann is an American international soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Everton.Graduating out of Seattle Pacific University, he played for the Seattle Sounders between 1994 and 1996. Between 1997 and 1999 he turned out for the Colorado Rapids, signing with English club...
making his best effort to stop the ball crossing the line. In the 66th minute, Antonio Valencia once again wrapped up another 3–0 victory, curling his effort from 16 yards into the top right-hand corner after neat play from Dimitar Berbatov.
United suffered their fifth loss of the season on 19 December, losing 3–0 to Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
at Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage is the name of a football stadium in the Hammersmith and Fulham area that has been the home ground of the association football team Fulham F.C. since 1896....
. This was their heaviest away league defeat for over three-and-a-half years, when Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
clinched the 2005–06 title by beating United by the same scoreline at Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge (stadium)
Stamford Bridge is a football stadium in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, West London, and is the home of Chelsea Football Club. The stadium is located within the Moore Park Estate also known as Walham Green and is often referred to as simply The Bridge...
on 29 April 2006.
United followed this with a visit to the KC Stadium
KC Stadium
The KC Stadium, often shortened to the KC, is a multi-purpose facility in the city of Kingston upon Hull , England. Conceived as early as the late 1990s, it was completed in 2002 at a cost of approximately £44 million. It is named after the stadium's sponsors, telecommunications provider KC,...
to play Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
, a game that they won 3–1 following goals from Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
and Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United. He captained the Bulgarian national team from 2006 to 2010, and is its all-time leading goalscorer and has also won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a record seven times, surpassing the number of...
either side of an own goal
Own goal
An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents....
from Andy Dawson. This result lifted them back into second place.
United ended 2009 in the league with their second 5–0 thrashing of Wigan
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
of the season, with the goals scored by five different players. Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
continued his fine run of form with the opening goal just before the half-hour mark, before Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the England national team. He has made more than 300 Premier League appearances and played in 50 UEFA Champions League games as of April 2011...
and Rafael
Rafael Pereira da Silva (footballer born 1990)
Rafael Pereira da Silva , commonly known as Rafael or Rafael da Silva, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Manchester United. He normally plays as a defender in a right back position, but can also play on the right side of midfield...
scored before half-time. Five minutes into the second half Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United. He captained the Bulgarian national team from 2006 to 2010, and is its all-time leading goalscorer and has also won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a record seven times, surpassing the number of...
scored and the rout was completed by Valencia
Luis Antonio Valencia
Luis Antonio Valencia Mosquera , commonly known as Antonio Valencia, is an Ecuadorian footballer who currently plays as a winger for Manchester United and the Ecuadorian national team...
with fifteen minutes to go. The result helped United's goal difference column, but they remained second in the table behind Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
as the New Year came around.
Following the unexpected defeat to Leeds United in the third round of the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
, United tried to return to winning ways away at Birmingham
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
. However, United - despite playing well - went behind and only equalised just after an hour through an own goal by Scott Dann
Scott Dann
Scott Dann is an English footballer who plays for Premier League club Blackburn Rovers as a centre back. He began his Football League career with Walsall, before moving on to Coventry City and then to Birmingham City in 2009...
. Both teams tried to win the match, but despite late chances for both sides the game ended 1–1 in a match that could have seen United go top had they won.
United returned to winning ways in the league with an ultimately comfortable 3–0 win at home to Burnley
Burnley F.C.
Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888...
. Burnley held out well until just after the hour mark before Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United. He captained the Bulgarian national team from 2006 to 2010, and is its all-time leading goalscorer and has also won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a record seven times, surpassing the number of...
opened the scoring from close range. Five minutes later, Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
slotted home the second before Mame Biram Diouf
Mame Biram Diouf
Mame Biram Diouf is a Senegalese footballer who plays as a forward for English club Manchester United and the Senegal national football team....
scored his first United goal in injury time.
United took full advantage of playing their home game against Hull
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
before Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
played to go top of the table (albeit having played two more games than their rivals), but for a long time the issue was in doubt. After Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
scored after just eight minutes both teams missed a plethora of chances to score. Rio Ferdinand
Rio Ferdinand
Rio Gavin Ferdinand is an English footballer. He plays at centre back for Manchester United in the Premier League and for the England national football team...
was very fortunate to avoid a red card and a penalty following an off-the-ball incident (for which he would later be retrospectively suspended for three games, increased to four after his appeal was turned down for being "frivolous"). With just eight minutes of normal time remaining, Rooney's early goal was still the only thing separating the two teams, but then three goals in quick succession - all from Wayne Rooney - gave United a 4–0 win. It was the first time that Rooney had scored four goals in a professional game and put United into first place until both Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
won one of two games in hand
Game in hand
The term Game in Hand is used in sport to indicate when a team has played fewer matches than other teams around them. This term is used to indicate that, whilst a team is in a particular position in a league, because they have played fewer matches than other teams around them they could...
to drop them down to second again.
United celebrated victory in the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
Semi-Final over local rivals Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
with a great performance away at third-placed Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
. The Gunners began the match just a point behind United and with hopes of mounting a serious title challenge to United and Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
. They began well, Andriy Arshavin shooting wide twice early on when well placed. But a man-of-the-match performance from Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
mis-fit Nani
Nani
-People:*Nani, a Portuguese footballer who plays for Manchester United*Gianluca Nani, former technical director at West Ham United*Nanabhoy Palkhivala, nicknamed Nani, an Indian jurist and economist*Nani Roma, a Spanish rally racing driver...
turned the match in United's favour. Firstly, a piece of skill took him past two defenders, before he put in a cross towards the far post, which keeper, Manuel Almunia
Manuel Almunia
Manuel Almunia Rivero is a professional footballer. He plays as a goalkeeper for Arsenal.-Early career:Born in Pamplona, Navarre, Almunia started his senior career with Osasuna's reserve team in 1997, playing two seasons with the team in Segunda División B...
palmed into his own net just after the half-hour. Five minutes later, Arsenal had a corner, but a lightning breakaway by Nani and Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
saw the latter score his 100th Premier League goal by slotting past Almunia with a first-time shot from a great pass by the Portuguese winger just eleven seconds after Arsenal took their corner. United's attacking on the break continued to cause Arsenal trouble and five minutes into the second half Park Ji-Sung
Park Ji-Sung
Park Ji-Sung is a South Korean footballer who plays as a midfielder for English club Manchester United. He was also the captain of the South Korean national team until his retirement from international football...
broke away from within his own half and, despite having Rooney and Nani in support, slotted past Almunia to seal the three points. A late goal from Thomas Vermaelen (deflected off Jonny Evans
Jonny Evans
Jonathan Grant "Jonny" Evans is a Northern Irish footballer who plays as a defender for Manchester United and Northern Ireland. Evans was born in Belfast and started his career at Greenisland FC, where he was spotted by Manchester United scouts. He progressed through Manchester United's football...
gave Arsenal hope, but they failed to find another goal and - after missed chances from Nani and Rooney, the game ended 3–1, leaving United second, one point behind Chelsea having played a game more. Chelsea then failed to beat Hull to leave the top three having all played 24 games, Chelsea two points ahead of United with Arsenal a further four points behind.
United returned (briefly) to the top of the table following a 5–0 thrashing of bottom club Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
at home
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
. Despite a couple of early opportunities for the visitors, including a Jonny Evans
Jonny Evans
Jonathan Grant "Jonny" Evans is a Northern Irish footballer who plays as a defender for Manchester United and Northern Ireland. Evans was born in Belfast and started his career at Greenisland FC, where he was spotted by Manchester United scouts. He progressed through Manchester United's football...
clearance off the line, United took the lead five minutes before half-time when Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
headed home a Darren Fletcher
Darren Fletcher
Darren Barr Fletcher is a Scottish footballer who plays as a central midfielder for English Premier League club Manchester United. He is the current captain of Scottish national team...
cross. United were two up before half-time when Nani
Nani
-People:*Nani, a Portuguese footballer who plays for Manchester United*Gianluca Nani, former technical director at West Ham United*Nanabhoy Palkhivala, nicknamed Nani, an Indian jurist and economist*Nani Roma, a Spanish rally racing driver...
's cross was turned into his own net by Anthony Vanden Borre
Anthony Vanden Borre
Anthony Vanden Borre is a male Belgian footballer who plays for Racing Genk.-Club career:His natural position is at right back or right winger but he made his debut both for Anderlecht and for Belgium at right back. He can also play as a central defender and as a midfielder where his range of...
, the shot rolling past keeper David James
David James (footballer)
David Benjamin James is an English footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Bristol City.On 14 February 2009, he achieved the all-time Premier League appearance record with 536 appearances, overtaking Gary Speed. He held this record until being overtaken by Ryan Giggs on the 14th May 2011...
. In the second half a Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the England national team. He has made more than 300 Premier League appearances and played in 50 UEFA Champions League games as of April 2011...
shot took a wild deflection off Richard Hughes
Richard Hughes (footballer)
Richard Daniel Hughes is a former Scottish footballer who was capped five times for the Scotland national team. He played as a defensive midfielder for Atalanta, Arsenal, Bournemouth, Portsmouth and Grimsby Town.-Arsenal:...
to loop over keeper James and in off the crossbar before Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United. He captained the Bulgarian national team from 2006 to 2010, and is its all-time leading goalscorer and has also won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a record seven times, surpassing the number of...
made up for a close-range miss in the first half by shooting home from just outside the penalty area. Portsmouth's misery was complete with more than twenty minutes left when Marc Wilson shot spectacularly into the roof of his own net whilst trying to clear the ball. The win put United top for 24 hours, before Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
beat Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
to regain the top spot.
United then travelled to Villa Park where they drew 1–1 with Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
. Villa took the lead through a Carlos Cuéllar
Carlos Cuéllar
Carlos Javier Cuéllar Jiménez is a Spanish footballer who plays for Aston Villa. He is primarily a central defender, but can also operate as a right-back.-Early career:...
header but their lead was short-lived as James Collins put through his own net to make the score 1–1. Nani
Nani
-People:*Nani, a Portuguese footballer who plays for Manchester United*Gianluca Nani, former technical director at West Ham United*Nanabhoy Palkhivala, nicknamed Nani, an Indian jurist and economist*Nani Roma, a Spanish rally racing driver...
was sent off on 29 minutes for a two-footed tackle on Stiliyan Petrov
Stiliyan Petrov
Stiliyan Alyoshev Petrov is a Bulgarian footballer who captains Aston Villa in the Premier League and the Bulgarian national team. He won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year award in 2003 when he was playing for Celtic...
but United held out for the point, which – combined with Everton's win over Chelsea that evening – reduced the gap at the top of the table to a single point.
United's next game was at Goodison Park
Goodison Park
Goodison Park is a football stadium located in Walton, Liverpool, England. The stadium has been home to Everton F.C. since its completion in 1892 and is one of the world's first purpose-built football grounds...
against Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
who had beaten Chelsea the previous week. United fared no better, ultimately losing 3–1, despite going in front through a Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United. He captained the Bulgarian national team from 2006 to 2010, and is its all-time leading goalscorer and has also won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a record seven times, surpassing the number of...
goal after 16 minutes. However a Diniyar Bilyaletdinov
Diniyar Bilyaletdinov
Diniyar Rinatovich Bilyaletdinov -Lokomotiv Moscow:A native of Moscow, Bilyaletdinov began his career in the Lokomotiv Moscow youth teams. After making his debut in 2004, he became a first team regular. In his first season the club won the Russian Premier League and was named the league's Young...
goal three minutes later, followed by second-half goals from Dan Gosling
Dan Gosling
Daniel "Dan" Gosling is an English footballer who plays for Premier League club Newcastle United as a centre midfielder, right midfielder or right fullback. Gosling is a versatile player, having operated as a box-to-box midfielder on several occasions and occasionally deputised at right back to...
and Jack Rodwell
Jack Rodwell
Jack Christian Rodwell is an English footballer who plays for Everton as a midfielder. Rodwell has represented his country at all levels from Under-16 to the senior team.- Club career :...
gave United their 6th Premier League defeat of the season. A win would have returned United to the top of the table, since they played before Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
, but this defeat, coupled with Chelseas' victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
later in the day increased the gap at the top to four points.
Due to Carling Cup commitments, United had an early midweek fixture against West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
. The game saw the return of Ben Foster in goal but no change in goalscoring service as Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
scored two headers and Michael Owen
Michael Owen
Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997...
's first league goal since the Manchester derby
Manchester derby
The Manchester derby is the name given to football matches between Manchester City and Manchester United. The local derby centres on the City of Manchester and Greater Manchester with approximately four miles separating the clubs with City based in east Manchester at the City of Manchester Stadium...
saw United cruise to a 3–0 win.
United then went to Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
where a tight, poor game was decided by a Paul Scholes
Paul Scholes
Paul Scholes is a retired English footballer, a one-club man who played his entire professional career for Manchester United.Born in Salford, but later moving to Langley, Scholes excelled in both cricket and football in school. He first trained with Manchester United at the age of 14 after being...
goal around ten minutes from time.
United then played at home to Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
where they exacted direct revenge for the 3–0 defeat at Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage
Craven Cottage is the name of a football stadium in the Hammersmith and Fulham area that has been the home ground of the association football team Fulham F.C. since 1896....
earlier in the season after two goals from Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
, from crosses by Nani
Nani
-People:*Nani, a Portuguese footballer who plays for Manchester United*Gianluca Nani, former technical director at West Ham United*Nanabhoy Palkhivala, nicknamed Nani, an Indian jurist and economist*Nani Roma, a Spanish rally racing driver...
and Berbatov and a late third from Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United. He captained the Bulgarian national team from 2006 to 2010, and is its all-time leading goalscorer and has also won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a record seven times, surpassing the number of...
himself gave United a win as comfortable as the scoreline suggested.
Uniteds' next league game was at home against bitter rivals, Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
. The Merseyside team had won the last three games between the two sides, including the 2-0 win at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
earlier in the season. It looked like a fourth straight league win might be on the cards when Fernando Torres
Fernando Torres
Fernando José Torres Sanz , nicknamed , is a Spanish footballer who plays for Chelsea and the Spain national team as a striker....
scored after just four minutes from a Dirk Kuyt
Dirk Kuyt
Dirk Kuyt is a Dutch footballer who plays for English club Liverpool. He started his career as a striker, but he has been converted into a winger and plays the position for both Liverpool and the Netherlands national team....
cross. However, the lead lasted only a few minutes before Javier Mascherano pulled down Luis Antonio Valencia
Luis Antonio Valencia
Luis Antonio Valencia Mosquera , commonly known as Antonio Valencia, is an Ecuadorian footballer who currently plays as a winger for Manchester United and the Ecuadorian national team...
. The challenge began outside the penalty area, but - on the advice of his assistant referee
Assistant referee (association football)
In association football, an assistant referee is one of several officials who assist the referee in controlling a match. Two officials, traditionally known as linesmen , stand on the touchlines, while a fourth official assists administrative or other match related tasks as directed by the referee...
- official Howard Webb
Howard Webb
Howard Melton Webb, MBE, is an English professional football referee who officiates primarily in the Premier League and has been a FIFA-listed referee since 2005....
gave a penalty. Pepe Reina saved the kick from Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
, but could only parry the ball back to the United forward who buried the rebound. The game remained at 1–1 until the hour mark when Park Ji-Sung
Park Ji-Sung
Park Ji-Sung is a South Korean footballer who plays as a midfielder for English club Manchester United. He was also the captain of the South Korean national team until his retirement from international football...
scored a close-range diving header from a Darren Fletcher
Darren Fletcher
Darren Barr Fletcher is a Scottish footballer who plays as a central midfielder for English Premier League club Manchester United. He is the current captain of Scottish national team...
cross. Torres and Yossi Benayoun
Yossi Benayoun
Yosef Shai "Yossi" Benayoun is an Israeli international footballer who plays for Arsenal on loan from Chelsea.Benayoun plays as an attacking midfielder, often occupying the space just behind the striker. In Israel, he is sometimes nicknamed "The Diamond from Dimona". He is also the captain of the...
had late chances to steal a draw, but United held on for the win. Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
's draw with Blackburn
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
later that day left United two points clear of Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
and four ahead of Chelsea, who had played a game less
Game in hand
The term Game in Hand is used in sport to indicate when a team has played fewer matches than other teams around them. This term is used to indicate that, whilst a team is in a particular position in a league, because they have played fewer matches than other teams around them they could...
than both the Gunners and United. Chelsea ultimately won their game in hand to go second in the table, a point behind United.
United then went to the Reebok Stadium
Reebok Stadium
The Reebok Stadium is the home stadium of English Premier League football club Bolton Wanderers, and is located on the Middlebrook Retail Park in Horwich, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. It is commonly known as 'The Reebok'...
to face Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
. The game was fairly tight in the first half until a Jlloyd Samuel
Jlloyd Samuel
Jlloyd Samuel is a Trinidadian footballer who last played for Bolton Wanderers as a defender. He is a Trinidad and Tobago international.-Aston Villa:...
own goal
Own goal
An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents....
put United 1-0 up after around half an hour. Saves from Edwin van der Sar
Edwin van der Sar
Edwin van der Sar OON is a former footballer who played as a goalkeeper for AFC Ajax, Juventus, Fulham and Manchester United. He is the most capped player in the Netherlands national football team's history...
kept United in front before 3 goals in twelve minutes in the second half, two from Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United. He captained the Bulgarian national team from 2006 to 2010, and is its all-time leading goalscorer and has also won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a record seven times, surpassing the number of...
and one from Darron Gibson
Darron Gibson
Darron Thomas Daniel Gibson is an Irish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the Republic of Ireland national team...
gave United a 4-0 win to stay top of the table. In the title race, Chelsea demolished Aston Villa, but Arsenal could only draw away at Birmingham City and dropped 4 points behind United in third place.
However, the top two swapped places after Chelsea defeated United 2-1 at Old Trafford in the next League game. Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
was unable to play, having been injured at the end of the Champions League Quarter-Final 1st leg defeat to Bayern Munich and United clearly missed their main striker with a below-par performance. Joe Cole
Joe Cole
Joseph John "Joe" Cole is an English footballer who plays for Lille, on loan from Liverpool, and the England national football team as midfielder. He started his career with where he played more than 100 games during five years, until he left for Chelsea in 2003...
slipped a back-heel home mid-way through the first half and - despite a vastly improved performance in the second, Didier Drogba
Didier Drogba
Didier Yves Drogba Tébily is an Ivorian footballer who plays in the centre forward position. He currently plays for Chelsea in the Premier League, where he is deputy vice-captain, and is the captain and all-time top scorer of the Côte d'Ivoire national football team...
scored from an offside position after 79 minutes, the goal standing despite the offside. Federico Macheda
Federico Macheda
Federico "Kiko" Macheda is an Italian footballer who plays as a striker for English Premier League club Manchester United. He joined Manchester United from Lazio in September 2007.-Early career:Macheda began his football career with Lazio...
scored from close range two minutes later (though this goal was also questionable, having appeared to be scored by Machedas' hands) and, although United threw themselves forward (even Edwin van der Sar
Edwin van der Sar
Edwin van der Sar OON is a former footballer who played as a goalkeeper for AFC Ajax, Juventus, Fulham and Manchester United. He is the most capped player in the Netherlands national football team's history...
ran up field at a late corner) Chelsea held on to take control of the title race with just five games remaining.
Uniteds' next game was away
Ewood Park
Ewood Park is a football stadium in the English town of Blackburn, Lancashire, and is the home of Blackburn Rovers Football Club — one of the founder members of the Football League and Premier League. Rovers have played there since they moved from Leamington Street in the summer of 1890. The...
to Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
and followed the 3-2 victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League, but which was not good enough to put the Reds into the Semi-Finals of that competition. Having suffered a miserable few days (including the first-leg defeat at Bayern and the previous League defeat to Chelsea), United were looking to bounce back against a team that had not lost a home game since the previous August. Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
was out injured and so Federico Macheda
Federico Macheda
Federico "Kiko" Macheda is an Italian footballer who plays as a striker for English Premier League club Manchester United. He joined Manchester United from Lazio in September 2007.-Early career:Macheda began his football career with Lazio...
was up front with Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United. He captained the Bulgarian national team from 2006 to 2010, and is its all-time leading goalscorer and has also won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a record seven times, surpassing the number of...
. Although United pressed hard and played the better football, they could not find their way past a resolute Blackburn defence and the game ended 0-0.
United then went to the City of Manchester Stadium
City of Manchester Stadium
The City of Manchester Stadium in Manchester, England – also known as the Etihad Stadium for sponsorship purposes– is the home ground of...
to face Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
in the fourth Manchester derby
Manchester derby
The Manchester derby is the name given to football matches between Manchester City and Manchester United. The local derby centres on the City of Manchester and Greater Manchester with approximately four miles separating the clubs with City based in east Manchester at the City of Manchester Stadium...
of the season. United needed to win to have any chance of the title, whilst City wanted to win to prevent United having any title aspirations and to boost their own hopes of being in the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
the following season. The game itself had few real chances. Carlos Tévez
Carlos Tévez
Carlos Alberto Tévez is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for English club Manchester City...
had a first-half free-kick well saved by Edwin van der Sar
Edwin van der Sar
Edwin van der Sar OON is a former footballer who played as a goalkeeper for AFC Ajax, Juventus, Fulham and Manchester United. He is the most capped player in the Netherlands national football team's history...
, whilst Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
(passed fit for the game), Ryan Giggs
Ryan Giggs
Ryan Joseph Giggs OBE is a Welsh professional footballer who plays for Manchester United. Giggs made his first appearance for the club during the 1990–91 season and has been a regular player since the 1991–92 season...
, Darren Fletcher
Darren Fletcher
Darren Barr Fletcher is a Scottish footballer who plays as a central midfielder for English Premier League club Manchester United. He is the current captain of Scottish national team...
and Paul Scholes
Paul Scholes
Paul Scholes is a retired English footballer, a one-club man who played his entire professional career for Manchester United.Born in Salford, but later moving to Langley, Scholes excelled in both cricket and football in school. He first trained with Manchester United at the age of 14 after being...
all passed up chances for United. Rooney made way for Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United. He captained the Bulgarian national team from 2006 to 2010, and is its all-time leading goalscorer and has also won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a record seven times, surpassing the number of...
with 15 minutes to go. As the game entered added time, Patrick Vieira
Patrick Vieira
Patrick Vieira is a retired French footballer of Senegalese descent who is the Football Development Executive at Manchester City....
caused a scramble in the United penalty area, but the ball was eventually cleared. However, it looked as though the game would end goal-less until just 17 seconds from the scheduled end of injury time, Scholes headed in a cross from Patrice Evra
Patrice Evra
Patrice Latyr Evra is a French international footballer who currently plays for English club Manchester United in the Premier League and the France national team. Originally an attacker, he primarily plays as a left back and is described as "the classic example of a modern full-back" who is...
to win the match for United. This, coupled with a 2–1 win for Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
over Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
left United just 1 point off the top of the table with 3 games remaining.
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
were the next visitors to Old Trafford in a game both teams wanted to win – United to put pressure on Chelsea and Spurs to cement their fourth spot in the League. However, the first half was abysmal, and it was almost 30 minutes before either team had a shot on goal – let alone on target. At the start of the second half, Patrice Evra
Patrice Evra
Patrice Latyr Evra is a French international footballer who currently plays for English club Manchester United in the Premier League and the France national team. Originally an attacker, he primarily plays as a left back and is described as "the classic example of a modern full-back" who is...
began vomiting
Vomiting
Vomiting is the forceful expulsion of the contents of one's stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose...
on the pitch, but ultimately stayed on and won a penalty just before the hour mark, which Ryan Giggs
Ryan Giggs
Ryan Joseph Giggs OBE is a Welsh professional footballer who plays for Manchester United. Giggs made his first appearance for the club during the 1990–91 season and has been a regular player since the 1991–92 season...
scored (Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
had picked up a groin injury in training and was ruled out of the match). Ledley King
Ledley King
Ledley Brenton King is an English footballer who plays for Tottenham Hotspur. He is the longest serving player at the club and captained Spurs since 2005. He is currently contracted to Tottenham until 2012...
scored with twenty minutes to go to restore parity, but United went back in front ten minutes later after Nani
Nani
-People:*Nani, a Portuguese footballer who plays for Manchester United*Gianluca Nani, former technical director at West Ham United*Nanabhoy Palkhivala, nicknamed Nani, an Indian jurist and economist*Nani Roma, a Spanish rally racing driver...
lobbed Heurelho Gomes. Nani was then fouled in the box, giving Giggs his second penalty, which he also scored to give United a 3–1 lead. Nani also began to vomit as injury time came around, but United held on to go back to the top of the table for 24 hours, before Chelsea hammered Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
7–0 to return to the summit.
By the time United played their penultimate game of the season - away to Sunderland - Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
had already won their penultimate game away to Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
and gone 4 points clear at the top of the table. With Chelsea having a vastly superior goal difference
Goal difference
In sports such as ice hockey and association football, goal difference is often the first tiebreaker used to rank teams which finish a league competition with an equal number of points....
to United, this meant that the Reds had to beat Sunderland to take the title to the final game of the season. A single Nani
Nani
-People:*Nani, a Portuguese footballer who plays for Manchester United*Gianluca Nani, former technical director at West Ham United*Nanabhoy Palkhivala, nicknamed Nani, an Indian jurist and economist*Nani Roma, a Spanish rally racing driver...
goal after around half an hour was enough to give United the three points to put them back within a point of Chelsea at the top, with both teams having just one game to play - United at home to Stoke
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
and Chelsea at home to Wigan
Wigan Athletic F.C.
Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW...
.
United beat Stoke
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
by a score of 4 goals to nil in the final game of the season. It took almost half an hour to break the Stoke defence down, before a rebound came to Darren Fletcher
Darren Fletcher
Darren Barr Fletcher is a Scottish footballer who plays as a central midfielder for English Premier League club Manchester United. He is the current captain of Scottish national team...
who shot home. Less than ten minutes later it was 2–0, Ryan Giggs
Ryan Giggs
Ryan Joseph Giggs OBE is a Welsh professional footballer who plays for Manchester United. Giggs made his first appearance for the club during the 1990–91 season and has been a regular player since the 1991–92 season...
shooting under the Stoke goalkeeper. Further goals in the second half - an own goal
Own goal
An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents....
from former United player Danny Higginbotham
Danny Higginbotham
Daniel John "Danny" Higginbotham is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Premier League club Stoke City.Higginbotham started his career at his local side Manchester United he made seven appearances at Old Trafford as well as a loan spell with Belgium side Royal Antwerp before joining...
and a late header from Park Ji-Sung
Park Ji-Sung
Park Ji-Sung is a South Korean footballer who plays as a midfielder for English club Manchester United. He was also the captain of the South Korean national team until his retirement from international football...
gave United a comfortable win, but one that was ultimately in vain as Chelsea hammered Wigan 8–0 to win the title.
| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F – A |
Scorers | Attendance | League position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 August 2009 | Birmingham City Birmingham City F.C. Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the... |
H | 1 – 0 | Rooney Wayne Rooney Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team... 34' |
75,062 | 9th |
| 19 August 2009 | Burnley Burnley F.C. Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888... |
A | 0 – 1 | 20,872 | 10th | |
| 22 August 2009 | Wigan Athletic Wigan Athletic F.C. Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW... |
A | 5 – 0 | Rooney Wayne Rooney Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team... (2) 56', 65', Berbatov Dimitar Berbatov Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United. He captained the Bulgarian national team from 2006 to 2010, and is its all-time leading goalscorer and has also won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a record seven times, surpassing the number of... 58', Owen Michael Owen Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997... 85', Nani Nani -People:*Nani, a Portuguese footballer who plays for Manchester United*Gianluca Nani, former technical director at West Ham United*Nanabhoy Palkhivala, nicknamed Nani, an Indian jurist and economist*Nani Roma, a Spanish rally racing driver... 90+2' |
18,164 | 3rd |
| 29 August 2009 | Arsenal Arsenal F.C. Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups... |
H | 2 – 1 | Rooney Wayne Rooney Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team... 59' (pen. Penalty kick A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play... ), Diaby Abou Diaby Vassiriki Abou Diaby , commonly known as Abou Diaby, is a French footballer who plays for English club Arsenal in the Premier League and the France national team... 64' (o.g. Own goal An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents.... ) |
75,095 | 3rd |
| 12 September 2009 | Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane.... |
A | 3 – 1 | Giggs Ryan Giggs Ryan Joseph Giggs OBE is a Welsh professional footballer who plays for Manchester United. Giggs made his first appearance for the club during the 1990–91 season and has been a regular player since the 1991–92 season... 25', Anderson Anderson Luís de Abreu Oliveira Anderson Luís de Abreu Oliveira , best known as Anderson, is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the Brazil national team.... 41', Rooney Wayne Rooney Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team... 78' |
35,785 | 2nd |
| 20 September 2009 | Manchester City Manchester City F.C. Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894... |
H | 4 – 3 | Rooney Wayne Rooney Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team... 2', Fletcher Darren Fletcher Darren Barr Fletcher is a Scottish footballer who plays as a central midfielder for English Premier League club Manchester United. He is the current captain of Scottish national team... (2) 49', 80', Owen Michael Owen Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997... 90+6' |
75,066 | 2nd |
| 26 September 2009 | Stoke City Stoke City F.C. Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts... |
A | 2 – 0 | Berbatov Dimitar Berbatov Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United. He captained the Bulgarian national team from 2006 to 2010, and is its all-time leading goalscorer and has also won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a record seven times, surpassing the number of... 62', O'Shea John O'Shea John O'Shea can refer to:*John O'Shea, Irish footballer with Sunderland*John O'Shea , New Zealand film director*John O'Shea *John O'Shea , Wales international rugby union footballer*John O'Shea... 77' |
27,500 | 1st |
| 3 October 2009 | Sunderland Sunderland A.F.C. Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League... |
H | 2 – 2 | Berbatov Dimitar Berbatov Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United. He captained the Bulgarian national team from 2006 to 2010, and is its all-time leading goalscorer and has also won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a record seven times, surpassing the number of... 51', Ferdinand Anton Ferdinand Anton Julian Ferdinand is an English footballer who plays for Queens Park Rangers as a defender. He is the brother of Manchester United and England centre-back Rio Ferdinand and the cousin of former England striker Les Ferdinand and Southend United defender Kane Ferdinand. Like his brother, Anton... 90+4' (o.g. Own goal An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents.... ) |
75,114 | 1st |
| 17 October 2009 | Bolton Wanderers Bolton Wanderers F.C. Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001.... |
H | 2 – 1 | Knight Zat Knight Zatyiah "Zat" Knight is an English footballer who plays for Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League. Knight has two caps for England.-Club career:-Fulham:Fulham signed Knight from Rushall Olympic on a free transfer in 1999... 5' (o.g. Own goal An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents.... ), Valencia 33' |
75,103 | 1st |
| 25 October 2009 | Liverpool Liverpool F.C. Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups... |
A | 0 – 2 | 44,188 | 2nd | |
| 31 October 2009 | Blackburn Rovers Blackburn Rovers F.C. Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football.... |
H | 2 – 0 | Berbatov Dimitar Berbatov Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United. He captained the Bulgarian national team from 2006 to 2010, and is its all-time leading goalscorer and has also won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a record seven times, surpassing the number of... 55', Rooney Wayne Rooney Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team... 87' |
74,658 | 2nd |
| 8 November 2009 | Chelsea Chelsea F.C. Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four... |
A | 0 – 1 | 41,836 | 3rd | |
| 21 November 2009 | Everton Everton F.C. Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football... |
H | 3 – 0 | Fletcher Darren Fletcher Darren Barr Fletcher is a Scottish footballer who plays as a central midfielder for English Premier League club Manchester United. He is the current captain of Scottish national team... 35', Carrick Michael Carrick Michael Carrick is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the England national team. He has made more than 300 Premier League appearances and played in 50 UEFA Champions League games as of April 2011... 67', Valencia 76' |
75,169 | 2nd |
| 28 November 2009 | Portsmouth Portsmouth F.C. Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from... |
A | 4 – 1 | Rooney Wayne Rooney Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team... (3) 25' (pen. Penalty kick A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play... ), 48', 54' (pen. Penalty kick A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play... ), Giggs Ryan Giggs Ryan Joseph Giggs OBE is a Welsh professional footballer who plays for Manchester United. Giggs made his first appearance for the club during the 1990–91 season and has been a regular player since the 1991–92 season... 87' |
20,482 | 2nd |
| 5 December 2009 | West Ham United West Ham United F.C. West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current... |
A | 4 – 0 | Scholes Paul Scholes Paul Scholes is a retired English footballer, a one-club man who played his entire professional career for Manchester United.Born in Salford, but later moving to Langley, Scholes excelled in both cricket and football in school. He first trained with Manchester United at the age of 14 after being... 45+1', Gibson Darron Gibson Darron Thomas Daniel Gibson is an Irish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the Republic of Ireland national team... 61', Valencia 71', Rooney Wayne Rooney Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team... 72' |
34,980 | 2nd |
| 12 December 2009 | Aston Villa Aston Villa F.C. Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder... |
H | 0 – 1 | 75,130 | 2nd | |
| 15 December 2009 | Wolverhampton Wanderers Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at... |
H | 3 – 0 | Rooney Wayne Rooney Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team... 30' (pen. Penalty kick A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play... ), Vidić Nemanja Vidic Nemanja Vidić is a Serbian footballer who captains English Premier League club Manchester United. He was part of the Serbia national football team from 2002 to 2011.... 43', Valencia 66' |
73,709 | 2nd |
| 19 December 2009 | Fulham Fulham F.C. Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season... |
A | 0 – 3 | 25,700 | 2nd | |
| 27 December 2009 | Hull City Hull City A.F.C. Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football... |
A | 3 – 1 | Rooney Wayne Rooney Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team... 45+2', Dawson 73' (o.g. Own goal An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents.... ), Berbatov Dimitar Berbatov Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United. He captained the Bulgarian national team from 2006 to 2010, and is its all-time leading goalscorer and has also won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a record seven times, surpassing the number of... 82' |
24,627 | 2nd |
| 30 December 2009 | Wigan Athletic Wigan Athletic F.C. Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW... |
H | 5 – 0 | Rooney Wayne Rooney Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team... 28', Carrick Michael Carrick Michael Carrick is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the England national team. He has made more than 300 Premier League appearances and played in 50 UEFA Champions League games as of April 2011... 32', Rafael Rafael Pereira da Silva (footballer born 1990) Rafael Pereira da Silva , commonly known as Rafael or Rafael da Silva, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Manchester United. He normally plays as a defender in a right back position, but can also play on the right side of midfield... 45', Berbatov Dimitar Berbatov Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United. He captained the Bulgarian national team from 2006 to 2010, and is its all-time leading goalscorer and has also won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a record seven times, surpassing the number of... 50', Valencia 75' |
74,560 | 2nd |
| 9 January 2010 | Birmingham City Birmingham City F.C. Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the... |
A | 1 – 1 | Dann Scott Dann Scott Dann is an English footballer who plays for Premier League club Blackburn Rovers as a centre back. He began his Football League career with Walsall, before moving on to Coventry City and then to Birmingham City in 2009... 63' (o.g. Own goal An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents.... ) |
28,907 | 2nd |
| 16 January 2010 | Burnley Burnley F.C. Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888... |
H | 3 – 0 | Berbatov Dimitar Berbatov Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United. He captained the Bulgarian national team from 2006 to 2010, and is its all-time leading goalscorer and has also won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a record seven times, surpassing the number of... 64', Rooney Wayne Rooney Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team... 69', Diouf Mame Biram Diouf Mame Biram Diouf is a Senegalese footballer who plays as a forward for English club Manchester United and the Senegal national football team.... 90+1' |
75,120 | 2nd |
| 23 January 2010 | Hull City Hull City A.F.C. Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football... |
H | 4 – 0 | Rooney Wayne Rooney Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team... (4) 8', 82', 86', 90+3' |
73,933 | 1st |
| 31 January 2010 | Arsenal Arsenal F.C. Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups... |
A | 3 – 1 | Nani Nani -People:*Nani, a Portuguese footballer who plays for Manchester United*Gianluca Nani, former technical director at West Ham United*Nanabhoy Palkhivala, nicknamed Nani, an Indian jurist and economist*Nani Roma, a Spanish rally racing driver... 33', Rooney Wayne Rooney Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team... 37', Park Park Ji-Sung Park Ji-Sung is a South Korean footballer who plays as a midfielder for English club Manchester United. He was also the captain of the South Korean national team until his retirement from international football... 52' |
60,091 | 2nd |
| 6 February 2010 | Portsmouth Portsmouth F.C. Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from... |
H | 5 – 0 | Rooney Wayne Rooney Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team... 40', Vanden Borre Anthony Vanden Borre Anthony Vanden Borre is a male Belgian footballer who plays for Racing Genk.-Club career:His natural position is at right back or right winger but he made his debut both for Anderlecht and for Belgium at right back. He can also play as a central defender and as a midfielder where his range of... 45' (o.g. Own goal An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents.... ), Carrick Michael Carrick Michael Carrick is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the England national team. He has made more than 300 Premier League appearances and played in 50 UEFA Champions League games as of April 2011... 59', Berbatov Dimitar Berbatov Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United. He captained the Bulgarian national team from 2006 to 2010, and is its all-time leading goalscorer and has also won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a record seven times, surpassing the number of... 62', Wilson 69' (o.g. Own goal An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents.... ) |
74,684 | 1st |
| 10 February 2010 | Aston Villa Aston Villa F.C. Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder... |
A | 1 – 1 | Collins 23' (o.g. Own goal An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents.... ) |
42,788 | 2nd |
| 20 February 2010 | Everton Everton F.C. Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football... |
A | 1 – 3 | Berbatov Dimitar Berbatov Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United. He captained the Bulgarian national team from 2006 to 2010, and is its all-time leading goalscorer and has also won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a record seven times, surpassing the number of... 16' |
39,448 | 2nd |
| 23 February 2010 | West Ham United West Ham United F.C. West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current... |
H | 3 – 0 | Rooney Wayne Rooney Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team... (2) 38', 55', Owen Michael Owen Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997... 80' |
73,797 | 2nd |
| 6 March 2010 | Wolverhampton Wanderers Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at... |
A | 1 – 0 | Scholes Paul Scholes Paul Scholes is a retired English footballer, a one-club man who played his entire professional career for Manchester United.Born in Salford, but later moving to Langley, Scholes excelled in both cricket and football in school. He first trained with Manchester United at the age of 14 after being... 73' |
28,883 | 1st |
| 14 March 2010 | Fulham Fulham F.C. Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season... |
H | 3 – 0 | Rooney Wayne Rooney Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team... (2) 46', 84', Berbatov Dimitar Berbatov Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United. He captained the Bulgarian national team from 2006 to 2010, and is its all-time leading goalscorer and has also won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a record seven times, surpassing the number of... 89' |
75,207 | 1st |
| 21 March 2010 | Liverpool Liverpool F.C. Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups... |
H | 2 – 1 | Rooney Wayne Rooney Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team... 12', Park Park Ji-Sung Park Ji-Sung is a South Korean footballer who plays as a midfielder for English club Manchester United. He was also the captain of the South Korean national team until his retirement from international football... 60' |
75,216 | 1st |
| 27 March 2010 | Bolton Wanderers Bolton Wanderers F.C. Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001.... |
A | 4 – 0 | Samuel Jlloyd Samuel Jlloyd Samuel is a Trinidadian footballer who last played for Bolton Wanderers as a defender. He is a Trinidad and Tobago international.-Aston Villa:... 38' (o.g. Own goal An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents.... ), Berbatov Dimitar Berbatov Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United. He captained the Bulgarian national team from 2006 to 2010, and is its all-time leading goalscorer and has also won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a record seven times, surpassing the number of... (2) 69', 78', Gibson Darron Gibson Darron Thomas Daniel Gibson is an Irish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the Republic of Ireland national team... 82' |
25,370 | 1st |
| 3 April 2010 | Chelsea Chelsea F.C. Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four... |
H | 1 – 2 | Macheda Federico Macheda Federico "Kiko" Macheda is an Italian footballer who plays as a striker for English Premier League club Manchester United. He joined Manchester United from Lazio in September 2007.-Early career:Macheda began his football career with Lazio... 81' |
75,217 | 2nd |
| 11 April 2010 | Blackburn Rovers Blackburn Rovers F.C. Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football.... |
A | 0 – 0 | 29,912 | 2nd | |
| 17 April 2010 | Manchester City Manchester City F.C. Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894... |
A | 1 – 0 | Scholes Paul Scholes Paul Scholes is a retired English footballer, a one-club man who played his entire professional career for Manchester United.Born in Salford, but later moving to Langley, Scholes excelled in both cricket and football in school. He first trained with Manchester United at the age of 14 after being... 90+3' |
47,019 | 2nd |
| 24 April 2010 | Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane.... |
H | 3 – 1 | Giggs Ryan Giggs Ryan Joseph Giggs OBE is a Welsh professional footballer who plays for Manchester United. Giggs made his first appearance for the club during the 1990–91 season and has been a regular player since the 1991–92 season... (2) 58' (pen. Penalty kick A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play... ), 86' (pen. Penalty kick A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play... ), Nani Nani -People:*Nani, a Portuguese footballer who plays for Manchester United*Gianluca Nani, former technical director at West Ham United*Nanabhoy Palkhivala, nicknamed Nani, an Indian jurist and economist*Nani Roma, a Spanish rally racing driver... 81' |
75,268 | 1st |
| 2 May 2010 | Sunderland Sunderland A.F.C. Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League... |
A | 1 – 0 | Nani Nani -People:*Nani, a Portuguese footballer who plays for Manchester United*Gianluca Nani, former technical director at West Ham United*Nanabhoy Palkhivala, nicknamed Nani, an Indian jurist and economist*Nani Roma, a Spanish rally racing driver... 28' |
47,641 | 2nd |
| 9 May 2010 | Stoke City Stoke City F.C. Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts... |
H | 4 – 0 | Fletcher Darren Fletcher Darren Barr Fletcher is a Scottish footballer who plays as a central midfielder for English Premier League club Manchester United. He is the current captain of Scottish national team... 31', Giggs Ryan Giggs Ryan Joseph Giggs OBE is a Welsh professional footballer who plays for Manchester United. Giggs made his first appearance for the club during the 1990–91 season and has been a regular player since the 1991–92 season... 38', Higginbotham Danny Higginbotham Daniel John "Danny" Higginbotham is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Premier League club Stoke City.Higginbotham started his career at his local side Manchester United he made seven appearances at Old Trafford as well as a loan spell with Belgium side Royal Antwerp before joining... 54' (o.g. Own goal An own net occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his or her own team. It is usually accidental, and may be a result of an attempt at defensive play that failed or was spoiled by opponents.... ), Park Park Ji-Sung Park Ji-Sung is a South Korean footballer who plays as a midfielder for English club Manchester United. He was also the captain of the South Korean national team until his retirement from international football... 84' |
75,316 | 2nd |
| Club | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea Chelsea F.C. Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four... |
38 | 27 | 5 | 6 | 103 | 32 | 86 | |
| 2 | Manchester United Manchester United F.C. Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958... |
38 | 27 | 4 | 7 | 86 | 28 | +58 | 85 |
| 3 | Arsenal Arsenal F.C. Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups... |
38 | 23 | 6 | 9 | 83 | 41 | 75 |
Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
FA Cup
Manchester United entered the 2009–10 FA Cup2009–10 FA Cup
The 2009–10 FA Cup was the 129th season of the world's oldest football knockout competition; The Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup for short. As in the previous year, 762 clubs were accepted for the competition. One club, Newcastle Blue Star, folded before the fixtures were released...
at the Third Round stage, and were the last home team drawn on 29 November 2009. They welcomed bitter rivals Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
to Old Trafford on 3 January 2010. Leeds reached the Third Round after beating Kettering Town
Kettering Town F.C.
Kettering Town Football Club are a football club originating in Kettering, Northamptonshire but currently based in the nearby village of Irthlingborough. The club play in the Conference National after winning the Conference North in 2007–08...
5–1 after extra time in a replay of their Second Round tie.
With a League Cup semi-final against Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
three days later in mind, Alex Ferguson opted for a mix of youth and experience for the Leeds match; the midfield quartet of Gabriel Obertan
Gabriel Obertan
Gabriel Antoine Obertan is a French footballer who plays for Newcastle United in the Premier League. He primarily plays as a winger, but can also play in the centre of midfield and as a striker....
, Darron Gibson
Darron Gibson
Darron Thomas Daniel Gibson is an Irish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the Republic of Ireland national team...
, Anderson
Anderson Luís de Abreu Oliveira
Anderson Luís de Abreu Oliveira , best known as Anderson, is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the Brazil national team....
and Danny Welbeck
Danny Welbeck
Daniel Nii Tackie Mensah "Danny" Welbeck is an English footballer who plays for Manchester United and the England national football team. He is a centre forward who can also play on the wing....
had an average age of almost 21, while Gary Neville
Gary Neville
Gary Alexander Neville is a former English footballer. He is England's most capped right-back and was Manchester United's club captain for five years....
and Wes Brown
Wes Brown
Wesley Michael "Wes" Brown is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Sunderland. Before joining Sunderland, Brown had spent his entire career at Old Trafford, having joined the Manchester United youth team in 1996...
started in defence with Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
and Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United. He captained the Bulgarian national team from 2006 to 2010, and is its all-time leading goalscorer and has also won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a record seven times, surpassing the number of...
up front. United went into the game 43 places above their opponents in the league system and started on the front foot; however, it was Leeds who opened the scoring in the 19th minute, when a long ball forward found Jermaine Beckford
Jermaine Beckford
Jermaine Paul Alexander Beckford is an English footballer who plays for Leicester City as a striker. He started his career as a trainee at Chelsea...
, who held off Wes Brown
Wes Brown
Wesley Michael "Wes" Brown is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Sunderland. Before joining Sunderland, Brown had spent his entire career at Old Trafford, having joined the Manchester United youth team in 1996...
before poking the ball past Tomasz Kuszczak
Tomasz Kuszczak
Tomasz Mirosław Kuszczak is a Polish footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for English club Manchester United and the Polish national team.Born in Krosno Odrzańskie, Kuszczak has previously played for Śląsk Wrocław in Poland, as well as for the German clubs KFC Uerdingen 05 and Hertha BSC, before...
in the United goal. In search of an equaliser, Manchester United had two penalty appeals turned down in the second half and both Rooney and Michael Owen
Michael Owen
Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997...
missed the target from close range, but the goal never came and the match finished 1–0 to Leeds, their first win at Old Trafford since 1981. The result meant that United had been eliminated from the FA Cup at the third round stage for the first time under the management of Alex Ferguson – they last lost an FA Cup third round tie in 1984, when they were beaten 2–0 by Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
at Dean Court.
| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F – A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 January 2010 | Round 3 | Leeds United Leeds United A.F.C. Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system... |
H | 0 – 1 | 74,526 |
League Cup
As one of the seven Premier League sides involved in European competition in the 2009–10 season, Manchester United received a bye to the Third Round of the 2009–10 Football League Cup2009–10 Football League Cup
The 2009–10 Football League Cup, known as the Carling Cup due to the competition's sponsorship by lager brand Carling, was the 50th season of the Football League Cup, a knock-out competition for England's top 92 football clubs....
. The draw for the Third Round took place on 29 August 2009, and gave Manchester United a home tie against fellow Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
. The match was played at Old Trafford on 23 September 2009, and Alex Ferguson took the opportunity to give playing time to some of the club's fringe players, including back-up goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak
Tomasz Kuszczak
Tomasz Mirosław Kuszczak is a Polish footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for English club Manchester United and the Polish national team.Born in Krosno Odrzańskie, Kuszczak has previously played for Śląsk Wrocław in Poland, as well as for the German clubs KFC Uerdingen 05 and Hertha BSC, before...
, midfielder Darron Gibson
Darron Gibson
Darron Thomas Daniel Gibson is an Irish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the Republic of Ireland national team...
and forwards Danny Welbeck
Danny Welbeck
Daniel Nii Tackie Mensah "Danny" Welbeck is an English footballer who plays for Manchester United and the England national football team. He is a centre forward who can also play on the wing....
and Federico Macheda
Federico Macheda
Federico "Kiko" Macheda is an Italian footballer who plays as a striker for English Premier League club Manchester United. He joined Manchester United from Lazio in September 2007.-Early career:Macheda began his football career with Lazio...
, while derby
Manchester derby
The Manchester derby is the name given to football matches between Manchester City and Manchester United. The local derby centres on the City of Manchester and Greater Manchester with approximately four miles separating the clubs with City based in east Manchester at the City of Manchester Stadium...
hero Michael Owen
Michael Owen
Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997...
was also given a position in the starting line-up. Ferguson also handed squad numbers to young Norwegian duo Joshua King
Joshua King (footballer)
Joshua Christian Kojo King is a Norwegian footballer who plays for German club Borussia Mönchengladbach, on loan from Manchester United. He usually plays as a forward, but he is also able to play as a winger...
and Magnus Eikrem
Magnus Wolff Eikrem
Magnus Wolff Eikrem is a Norwegian footballer who plays for Molde in the Norwegian Premier League. His regular playing position is in attacking midfield, though he can play anywhere across the midfield...
. However, United were reduced to 10 men half-an-hour into the match as Fábio
Fábio Pereira da Silva
Fábio Pereira da Silva , commonly known as Fábio or Fábio da Silva, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a full-back for Manchester United of the Premier League, along with his twin brother, Rafael, who were signed by Manchester United in February 2007.-Early life:Fábio was born in Petrópolis,...
was sent off for a professional foul on Michael Kightly
Michael Kightly
Michael John Kightly is an English footballer who plays as a winger. He is on loan at Championship side Watford from Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers....
, who was through on goal; Ferguson responded by bringing Ritchie De Laet on in place of Macheda. Despite the numerical disadvantage, though, United went one-up in the 66th minute, as Welbeck played a one-two with Owen before firing past Wolves' goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann
Marcus Hahnemann
Marcus Stephen Hahnemann is an American international soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Everton.Graduating out of Seattle Pacific University, he played for the Seattle Sounders between 1994 and 1996. Between 1997 and 1999 he turned out for the Colorado Rapids, signing with English club...
. With ten minutes left in the game, Ferguson gave Joshua King his professional debut, coming on in place of Welbeck. Although King had two opportunities to add to United's lead, the match finished at 1–0 and Manchester United progressed to the Fourth Round of the competition.
The draw for the Fourth Round was made on 26 September 2009, and handed Manchester United a trip to Oakwell to play against Barnsley
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
, who are managed by former United striker Mark Robins
Mark Robins
Mark Gordon Robins is an English football manager, appointed manager of Barnsley in 2009.As a player, he was most notable for his exploits with Manchester United, Norwich City and Leicester City...
. The match was played on 27 October 2009, and the lower-league opposition meant that Ferguson could afford to pick some of the less experienced members of his squad, while summer signing Gabriel Obertan
Gabriel Obertan
Gabriel Antoine Obertan is a French footballer who plays for Newcastle United in the Premier League. He primarily plays as a winger, but can also play in the centre of midfield and as a striker....
was given his first senior start for the club. Danny Welbeck opened the scoring for United in the sixth minute, heading home Anderson
Anderson Luís de Abreu Oliveira
Anderson Luís de Abreu Oliveira , best known as Anderson, is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the Brazil national team....
's corner for the only goal of the first half. Michael Owen doubled United's lead with a coolly taken finish 14 minutes into the second half, shooting early past former Manchester United goalkeeper Luke Steele from just inside the penalty area after playing the ball through the defender's legs. Despite a controversial red card for Gary Neville
Gary Neville
Gary Alexander Neville is a former English footballer. He is England's most capped right-back and was Manchester United's club captain for five years....
– given more for his follow-through than the actual tackle on Adam Hammill
Adam Hammill
Adam James Hammill is an English footballer of Irish descent who plays as a winger for Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers....
– United held on for a 2–0 win that sent them into the last eight of the competition.
In the draw for the Fifth Round of the competition, held on 31 October 2009, United were given a home tie against Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
, in a repeat of the 2009 final
2009 Football League Cup Final
The 2009 Football League Cup Final was the final match of the 2008–09 Football League Cup, the 49th season of the Football League Cup, a football competition for the 92 teams in the Premier League and The Football League...
. The match was played on 1 December 2009. United won 2–0 after a brace from Darron Gibson in the first half. He drove his first goal low into the left side of the net after a pass from Anderson. His second goal came after he hit the ball first time after it becoming loose just outside the box, sending it too far into the right top corner for Heurelho Gomes to reach. Despite a few missed close chances from Dimitar Berbatov, Park Ji-Sung and Kiko Macheda, the score remained 2–0 for the remainder of the match.
The semi-final draw was made on 2 December 2009 and paired United with local rivals Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
. The two-legged tie was the first time in nearly six years that the two sides had met in a cup tie, and the first time in over 40 years that they had played in a semi-final. The first leg was scheduled to take place at the City of Manchester Stadium
City of Manchester Stadium
The City of Manchester Stadium in Manchester, England – also known as the Etihad Stadium for sponsorship purposes– is the home ground of...
on 6 January 2010, but although the pitch was playable, snow in the north of England the previous day caused the Greater Manchester Police
Greater Manchester Police
Greater Manchester Police is the police force responsible for law enforcement within the metropolitan county of Greater Manchester in North West England...
to advise the postponement of the match for the safety of travelling supporters. The first leg was then scheduled for 19 January 2010 – the original date for the second leg, which was played on 27 January.
United took the lead after 17 minutes of the first leg; Antonio Valencia was found in open space on the right wing and the Ecuadorian beat Craig Bellamy
Craig Bellamy
Craig Douglas Bellamy is a Welsh footballer who plays as a striker for Liverpool and the Welsh national team. Born in Cardiff, Bellamy was the captain of the Welsh national side for four years after taking over from Ryan Giggs in 2007, but stood down in January 2011 due to constant injuries...
before putting in a low cross. Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
reached the ball first, and although his shot was saved, the ball fell to Ryan Giggs
Ryan Giggs
Ryan Joseph Giggs OBE is a Welsh professional footballer who plays for Manchester United. Giggs made his first appearance for the club during the 1990–91 season and has been a regular player since the 1991–92 season...
, who was left with a simple finish from two yards out in the middle of the goal. City equalised shortly before half-time via a controversial penalty from Carlos Tévez
Carlos Tévez
Carlos Alberto Tévez is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for English club Manchester City...
; the penalty was awarded by referee Mike Dean
Mike Dean (referee)
-Coin-throwing incident:On 5 April 2009 in the South Wales derby between Cardiff City and Swansea City, Dean suffered a cut to the forehead resulting from what appeared to be a coin thrown by a Cardiff supporter. He later awarded Cardiff a debatable penalty, which was converted to earn a draw for...
for a pull on Bellamy by United right-back Rafael
Rafael Pereira da Silva (footballer born 1990)
Rafael Pereira da Silva , commonly known as Rafael or Rafael da Silva, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Manchester United. He normally plays as a defender in a right back position, but can also play on the right side of midfield...
, but the Brazilian appeared to have let go of the City forward after the original foul had been committed outside the penalty area. City then took the lead half-way through the second half, Tévez again getting on the scoresheet after the United defence had failed to deal with a City corner. United pressed for an equaliser, but they were continually denied by reflex saves from City goalkeeper Shay Given
Shay Given
Séamus John James "Shay" Given is an Irish footballer who plays for Aston Villa and the Republic of Ireland national team as a goalkeeper. He won the PFA's Player of the Year in 2002....
, and City took a 2–1 lead into the second leg at Old Trafford.
United set the pace at the start of the second leg, but it was City who made the better chances. Nevertheless, the first half passed without a goal, and United took the lead after seven minutes of the second half; City won a corner, which Craig Bellamy went across to take, but the Welsh forward was struck by missiles thrown from the United crowd. When the corner was eventually taken, the ball was cleared to Wayne Rooney, who beat his marker with a sharp turn before hitting a long diagonal ball to Ryan Giggs on the right wing. The Welshman played the ball into the box, where neither Nani
Nani
-People:*Nani, a Portuguese footballer who plays for Manchester United*Gianluca Nani, former technical director at West Ham United*Nanabhoy Palkhivala, nicknamed Nani, an Indian jurist and economist*Nani Roma, a Spanish rally racing driver...
nor Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the England national team. He has made more than 300 Premier League appearances and played in 50 UEFA Champions League games as of April 2011...
were able to get shots away, but the ball broke to Paul Scholes
Paul Scholes
Paul Scholes is a retired English footballer, a one-club man who played his entire professional career for Manchester United.Born in Salford, but later moving to Langley, Scholes excelled in both cricket and football in school. He first trained with Manchester United at the age of 14 after being...
on the edge of the penalty area and the veteran hit a low shot into the bottom corner of the net. Carrick doubled United's lead with 20 minutes left to play, passing the ball in off the far post after a lay-off from man-of-the-match Darren Fletcher
Darren Fletcher
Darren Barr Fletcher is a Scottish footballer who plays as a central midfielder for English Premier League club Manchester United. He is the current captain of Scottish national team...
, but Carlos Tévez drew City level on aggregate five minutes later as he stretched his leg around Rio Ferdinand
Rio Ferdinand
Rio Gavin Ferdinand is an English footballer. He plays at centre back for Manchester United in the Premier League and for the England national football team...
to flick home Craig Bellamy's left-wing cross. With the scores level going into injury time, the tie was set for a further 30 minutes of play, but Giggs played a short corner before receiving the return ball and crossing into the six-yard box, where Wayne Rooney had stolen in to head past Shay Given. The goal secured a 3–1 win for United (4–3 on aggregate) and a place in the 2010 Football League Cup Final
2010 Football League Cup Final
The 2010 Football League Cup Final was the final match of the 2009–10 Football League Cup, the 50th season of the Football League Cup, a football competition for the 92 teams in the Premier League and The Football League. The match, played at Wembley Stadium on 28 February 2010, was won by...
, their second League Cup final in a row and their third in five years.
In a repeat of the 1994 final
1994 Football League Cup Final
The 1994 Coca-Cola Cup Final took place on 27 March 1994 at the old Wembley Stadium. It was contested between Manchester United and Aston Villa. Aston Villa won 3–1 to claim their fourth League Cup final victory...
, United's opponents in the final were Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
. They beat Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
7–4 on aggregate (including a 6–4 home win in the second leg) to reach their first League Cup final for 14 years and their first Wembley
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
final since the 2000 FA Cup Final.
United won the final 2–1. James Milner
James Milner
Milner was described as a "first class" student at his school; he left with 11 GCSEs and an award for his performance in physical education. Milner also showed talent in cricket, sprinting and long-distance running...
's fifth minute penalty, awarded after Nemanja Vidić
Nemanja Vidic
Nemanja Vidić is a Serbian footballer who captains English Premier League club Manchester United. He was part of the Serbia national football team from 2002 to 2011....
fouled Gabriel Agbonlahor
Gabriel Agbonlahor
Gabriel Imuetinyan "Gabby" Agbonlahor is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Aston Villa. Agbonlahor is a product of Aston Villa's Academy and has earned three caps for the English national team. He is currently the longest-serving player at Villa Park, joining as a youth player in...
, gave Aston Villa an early lead, but Michael Owen
Michael Owen
Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997...
equalised seven minutes later after Richard Dunne
Richard Dunne
Richard Patrick Dunne is an Irish footballer who plays as a defender for Aston Villa and the Republic of Ireland national football team. With Ireland he was a member of the 2002 FIFA World Cup squad and helped his team qualify for UEFA Euro 2012.Dunne began his professional career at Everton...
gave the ball away. Park Ji-Sung
Park Ji-Sung
Park Ji-Sung is a South Korean footballer who plays as a midfielder for English club Manchester United. He was also the captain of the South Korean national team until his retirement from international football...
hit the post late in the first half, but Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
's header from Antonio Valencia's cross gave United the win. Moments after he scored what turned out to be the winning goal, Rooney also hit the post with another header from another Valencia cross. But that counted for nothing as United held on to win the first silverware of the season.
| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F – A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 September 2009 | Round 3 | Wolverhampton Wanderers Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at... |
H | 1 – 0 | Welbeck Danny Welbeck Daniel Nii Tackie Mensah "Danny" Welbeck is an English footballer who plays for Manchester United and the England national football team. He is a centre forward who can also play on the wing.... 66' |
51,160 |
| 27 October 2009 | Round 4 | Barnsley Barnsley F.C. Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's... |
A | 2 – 0 | Welbeck Danny Welbeck Daniel Nii Tackie Mensah "Danny" Welbeck is an English footballer who plays for Manchester United and the England national football team. He is a centre forward who can also play on the wing.... 6', Owen Michael Owen Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997... 59' |
20,019 |
| 1 December 2009 | Round 5 | Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane.... |
H | 2 – 0 | Gibson Darron Gibson Darron Thomas Daniel Gibson is an Irish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the Republic of Ireland national team... (2) 16', 38' |
57,212 |
| 19 January 2010 | Semi-final First leg |
Manchester City Manchester City F.C. Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894... |
A | 1 – 2 | Giggs Ryan Giggs Ryan Joseph Giggs OBE is a Welsh professional footballer who plays for Manchester United. Giggs made his first appearance for the club during the 1990–91 season and has been a regular player since the 1991–92 season... 17' |
46,067 |
| 27 January 2010 | Semi-final Second leg |
Manchester City Manchester City F.C. Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894... |
H | 3 – 1 | Scholes Paul Scholes Paul Scholes is a retired English footballer, a one-club man who played his entire professional career for Manchester United.Born in Salford, but later moving to Langley, Scholes excelled in both cricket and football in school. He first trained with Manchester United at the age of 14 after being... 52', Carrick Michael Carrick Michael Carrick is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the England national team. He has made more than 300 Premier League appearances and played in 50 UEFA Champions League games as of April 2011... 71', Rooney Wayne Rooney Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team... 90+2' |
74,576 |
| 28 February 2010 | Final 2010 Football League Cup Final The 2010 Football League Cup Final was the final match of the 2009–10 Football League Cup, the 50th season of the Football League Cup, a football competition for the 92 teams in the Premier League and The Football League. The match, played at Wembley Stadium on 28 February 2010, was won by... |
Aston Villa Aston Villa F.C. Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder... |
N Wembley Stadium The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007... |
2 – 1 | Owen Michael Owen Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997... 12', Rooney Wayne Rooney Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team... 74' |
88,596 |
Group stage
The draw for the group stage of the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League took place in MonacoMonaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
on 27 August 2009. As one of the top eight-ranked sides in Europe, Manchester United were seeded in Pot 1, meaning that, as well as the three other English sides in the competition, they would avoid Sevilla
Sevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
, Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
, Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
and their opponents in the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final
2009 UEFA Champions League Final
The 2009 UEFA Champions League Final was played on 27 May 2009 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy. The match determined the winners of the 2008–09 season of the UEFA Champions League, a tournament for the top football clubs in Europe. The match was won by Barcelona of Spain, who beat England's...
, Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
. However, they could still be paired with clubs such as Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
, Internazionale
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
or Juventus
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
, amongst others. Eventually, they were drawn into Group B with three clubs they had never played before: CSKA Moscow of Russia, Beşiktaş
Besiktas J.K.
Beşiktaş Jimnastik Kulübü , or simply Beşiktaş , is a Turkish sports club. The club's football team is one of the major teams in Turkey. The professional sports club, founded in 1903, is based in the Beşiktaş district in Istanbul, Turkey...
of Turkey and Wolfsburg
VfL Wolfsburg
VfL Wolfsburg is a professional German association football club based in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, who play in the Bundesliga football competition. Wolfsburg have won the Bundesliga once in their history, in the 2008–09 season, and were DFB-Pokal runners-up in 1995. The current head coach is Felix...
of Germany.
United opened their Champions League campaign with a 1–0 away win over Beşiktaş on 15 September. Paul Scholes
Paul Scholes
Paul Scholes is a retired English footballer, a one-club man who played his entire professional career for Manchester United.Born in Salford, but later moving to Langley, Scholes excelled in both cricket and football in school. He first trained with Manchester United at the age of 14 after being...
headed in the winning goal in the 77th minute after Nani
Nani
-People:*Nani, a Portuguese footballer who plays for Manchester United*Gianluca Nani, former technical director at West Ham United*Nanabhoy Palkhivala, nicknamed Nani, an Indian jurist and economist*Nani Roma, a Spanish rally racing driver...
's shot had been saved by Hakan Arıkan
Hakan Arikan
Hakan Arıkan is a Turkish footballer. He currently plays for Mersin İdman Yurdu, as a goalkeeper.-Raising to fame:...
. The Portuguese winger cut inside off the left wing, hit a shot that was too hot for the Beşiktaş goalkeeper to handle and the ball rebounded into the path of Scholes, whose header went in off the post.
For the next match, two weeks later, United played host to the German champions, Wolfsburg, at Old Trafford. Wolfsburg began the game strongly, imposing themselves physically on the pitch, but although United had the upper hand by the end of the half, the teams went into the half-time interval at 0–0. After the break, United continued to create chances, but it was Wolfsburg who got the opening goal through striker Edin Džeko
Edin Džeko
Edin Džeko is a Bosnian footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester City and the Bosnian national team. He was named Bosnian Footballer of the Year for 2009 and 2010...
. Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the England national team. He has made more than 300 Premier League appearances and played in 50 UEFA Champions League games as of April 2011...
committed a foul on the edge of his penalty area, but the referee allowed play to continue as Wolfsburg were still in possession. The ball was crossed in by Makoto Hasebe
Makoto Hasebe
is a Japanese football player. He is a right-footed midfielder who currently plays for VfL Wolfsburg and is currently the captain of the Japan national football team in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.-Urawa Red Diamonds :...
and Džeko rose above Patrice Evra
Patrice Evra
Patrice Latyr Evra is a French international footballer who currently plays for English club Manchester United in the Premier League and the France national team. Originally an attacker, he primarily plays as a left back and is described as "the classic example of a modern full-back" who is...
at the far post to head past Tomasz Kuszczak
Tomasz Kuszczak
Tomasz Mirosław Kuszczak is a Polish footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for English club Manchester United and the Polish national team.Born in Krosno Odrzańskie, Kuszczak has previously played for Śląsk Wrocław in Poland, as well as for the German clubs KFC Uerdingen 05 and Hertha BSC, before...
. United responded immediately through a Ryan Giggs
Ryan Giggs
Ryan Joseph Giggs OBE is a Welsh professional footballer who plays for Manchester United. Giggs made his first appearance for the club during the 1990–91 season and has been a regular player since the 1991–92 season...
free-kick that took a large deflection off Christian Gentner
Christian Gentner
Christian Gentner is a German footballer who plays for VfB Stuttgart.-Club career:Before joining VfB Stuttgart, the central midfielder played at TSV Beuren and VfL Kirchheim....
in the Wolfsburg wall, wrong-footing goalkeeper Diego Benaglio, and found the bottom corner of the goal for Giggs' 150th for Manchester United. In the 78th minute, United won a throw-in on the left side, from which Evra found Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
. Rooney played the ball in to Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United. He captained the Bulgarian national team from 2006 to 2010, and is its all-time leading goalscorer and has also won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a record seven times, surpassing the number of...
in the Wolfsburg penalty area, but the Bulgarian was unable to make room for a shot and laid the ball off to Giggs. Likewise, Giggs could not find a shooting angle and chose to nudge the ball back to Carrick, who curled it into the far corner from outside the area. United protected their lead for the remaining 12 minutes, and the win took them to the top of their group.
For the first of their two matches against CSKA Moscow, on 21 October, United travelled to the Luzhniki Stadium
Luzhniki Stadium
The Grand Sports Arena of the Luzhniki Olympic Complex in Moscow, or briefly Luzhniki Stadium , is the biggest sports stadium in Russia. Its total seating capacity is 78,360 seats, all covered. The stadium is a part of the Luzhniki Olympic Complex, previously called the Central Lenin Stadium...
, the venue for their 2008 UEFA Champions League Final
2008 UEFA Champions League Final
The 2008 UEFA Champions League Final was a football match that took place on Wednesday, 21 May 2008 at 20:45 CEST . The match was played at the Luzhniki Stadium, in Moscow, Russia, to determine the winner of the 2007–08 UEFA Champions League...
victory. However, they were without Ryan Giggs, Patrice Evra, Park Ji-Sung
Park Ji-Sung
Park Ji-Sung is a South Korean footballer who plays as a midfielder for English club Manchester United. He was also the captain of the South Korean national team until his retirement from international football...
, Darren Fletcher
Darren Fletcher
Darren Barr Fletcher is a Scottish footballer who plays as a central midfielder for English Premier League club Manchester United. He is the current captain of Scottish national team...
and Wayne Rooney, who were all unavailable due to injury. The stadium's artificial pitch had caused some concern prior to the game, but although CSKA were more used to the surface, United also settled on the unfamiliar turf and the match became cagey, resulting in a goalless first half. The match remained goalless until the 86th minute, when Antonio Valencia fired a shot past CSKA goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev
Igor Akinfeev
Igor Vladimirovich Akinfeev is a Russian international football goalkeeper playing in the Russian championship for CSKA Moscow.-CSKA:Akinfeev broke into the CSKA starting lineup at the age of 17, and has been the first-choice goalkeeper at the club ever since, gathering various honors including a...
to secure a 1–0 win. The ball was flicked on to Valencia from Nani's left-wing cross by Dimitar Berbatov, and the Ecuadorian's shot was too powerful to stop. The result gave United their first win in six matches against Russian opposition. It also maintained their unbeaten away record in the UEFA Champions League, which stretched back 14 matches to May 2007, when they lost to Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
in the semi-finals. The streak drew United level with Ajax, whose streak was ended by Juventus
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
in the 1996–97 semi-finals.
The return match with CSKA Moscow was played at Old Trafford two weeks later, on 3 November. Following the birth of his first son, Wayne Rooney was dropped to the bench, and United had to continue without their first-choice centre-backs, Rio Ferdinand
Rio Ferdinand
Rio Gavin Ferdinand is an English footballer. He plays at centre back for Manchester United in the Premier League and for the England national football team...
and Nemanja Vidić
Nemanja Vidic
Nemanja Vidić is a Serbian footballer who captains English Premier League club Manchester United. He was part of the Serbia national football team from 2002 to 2011....
. Dimitar Berbatov was also absent through injury, meaning that Federico Macheda
Federico Macheda
Federico "Kiko" Macheda is an Italian footballer who plays as a striker for English Premier League club Manchester United. He joined Manchester United from Lazio in September 2007.-Early career:Macheda began his football career with Lazio...
partnered Michael Owen
Michael Owen
Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997...
up front for his first Champions League appearance. After Alan Dzagoev
Alan Dzagoev
Alan Yelizbarovich Dzagoev is a Russian international association footballer of Ossetian descent who plays for CSKA Moscow.After joining Krylia Sovetov-SOK in 2006, he remained there for two seasons before transferring to CSKA Moscow...
opened the scoring for CSKA with a powerful shot past Van der Sar from a narrow angle in the 25th minute, Owen equalised just four minutes later as the ball broke to him in the goal area and he passed it under the advancing Akinfeev. However, CSKA retook the lead almost immediately through Miloš Krasić
Miloš Krasic
Miloš Krasić is a Serbian professional footballer who plays for Juventus and the Serbian national team.-Playing style:...
, and Vasili Berezutski doubled their lead shortly after half-time. The score remained at 3–1 until the 84th minute, when Gary Neville crossed a free-kick, which deflected off Nani for Paul Scholes to head home. Antonio Valencia then salvaged a draw for United in injury time, firing in a long-range shot that looked to be going wide until it took a wicked deflection off Georgi Schennikov. With Wolfsburg beating Beşiktaş 3–0 in Istanbul, the draw was enough to secure United's passage through to the knockout stage
2009–10 UEFA Champions League knockout stage
The knockout phase of the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League began on 16 February 2010 and concluded on 22 May 2010 with the final won by Internazionale against Bayern Munich 2–0 at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid...
of the competition, although they were yet to clinch top spot in the group.
United lost their home game 1–0 to Beşiktaş but clinched first place in their group after beating Wolfsburg 3–1 away. Michael Owen scored all three goals, claiming his first Manchester United hat trick.
| Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F – A |
Scorers | Attendance | Group position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 September 2009 | Beşiktaş Besiktas J.K. Beşiktaş Jimnastik Kulübü , or simply Beşiktaş , is a Turkish sports club. The club's football team is one of the major teams in Turkey. The professional sports club, founded in 1903, is based in the Beşiktaş district in Istanbul, Turkey... |
A | 1 – 0 | Scholes Paul Scholes Paul Scholes is a retired English footballer, a one-club man who played his entire professional career for Manchester United.Born in Salford, but later moving to Langley, Scholes excelled in both cricket and football in school. He first trained with Manchester United at the age of 14 after being... 77' |
26,448 | 2nd |
| 30 September 2009 | Wolfsburg VfL Wolfsburg VfL Wolfsburg is a professional German association football club based in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, who play in the Bundesliga football competition. Wolfsburg have won the Bundesliga once in their history, in the 2008–09 season, and were DFB-Pokal runners-up in 1995. The current head coach is Felix... |
H | 2 – 1 | Giggs Ryan Giggs Ryan Joseph Giggs OBE is a Welsh professional footballer who plays for Manchester United. Giggs made his first appearance for the club during the 1990–91 season and has been a regular player since the 1991–92 season... 59', Carrick Michael Carrick Michael Carrick is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the England national team. He has made more than 300 Premier League appearances and played in 50 UEFA Champions League games as of April 2011... 78' |
74,037 | 1st |
| 21 October 2009 | CSKA Moscow | A | 1 – 0 | Valencia 86' | 51,250 | 1st |
| 3 November 2009 | CSKA Moscow | H | 3 – 3 | Owen Michael Owen Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997... 29', Scholes Paul Scholes Paul Scholes is a retired English footballer, a one-club man who played his entire professional career for Manchester United.Born in Salford, but later moving to Langley, Scholes excelled in both cricket and football in school. He first trained with Manchester United at the age of 14 after being... 84', Valencia 90+2' |
73,718 | 1st |
| 25 November 2009 | Beşiktaş Besiktas J.K. Beşiktaş Jimnastik Kulübü , or simply Beşiktaş , is a Turkish sports club. The club's football team is one of the major teams in Turkey. The professional sports club, founded in 1903, is based in the Beşiktaş district in Istanbul, Turkey... |
H | 0 – 1 | 74,242 | 1st | |
| 8 December 2009 | Wolfsburg VfL Wolfsburg VfL Wolfsburg is a professional German association football club based in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, who play in the Bundesliga football competition. Wolfsburg have won the Bundesliga once in their history, in the 2008–09 season, and were DFB-Pokal runners-up in 1995. The current head coach is Felix... |
A | 3 – 1 | Owen Michael Owen Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997... (3) 44', 83', 90+1' |
26,490 | 1st |
| Team | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Manchester UnitedManchester United F.C. Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958... |
6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 6 | +4 | 13 |
 CSKA Moscow |
6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
 WolfsburgVfL Wolfsburg VfL Wolfsburg is a professional German association football club based in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, who play in the Bundesliga football competition. Wolfsburg have won the Bundesliga once in their history, in the 2008–09 season, and were DFB-Pokal runners-up in 1995. The current head coach is Felix... |
6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 7 | |
 BeşiktaşBesiktas J.K. Beşiktaş Jimnastik Kulübü , or simply Beşiktaş , is a Turkish sports club. The club's football team is one of the major teams in Turkey. The professional sports club, founded in 1903, is based in the Beşiktaş district in Istanbul, Turkey... |
6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 8 | −5 | 4 |
Knockout stage
The draw for the first knockout round of the Champions League was made in NyonNyon
Nyon is a municipality in the district of Nyon in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. It is located some 25 kilometers north east of Geneva's city centre, and since the 1970s it has become part of the Geneva metropolitan area. It lies on the shores of Lake Geneva, and is the seat of the district of...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, on 18 December 2009. United, as group winners, could have faced such teams as Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
and Internazionale
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
, but were ultimately paired with Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
. This presented the possibility of former player David Beckham
David Beckham
David Robert Joseph Beckham, OBE is an English footballer who plays midfield for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer, having previously played for Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, and A.C...
facing United for the first time since he was sold to Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
in 2003.
Beckham started the first leg on the right side of the Milan midfield and played a major part in the build-up to the first goal of the game; in the third minute, Patrice Evra
Patrice Evra
Patrice Latyr Evra is a French international footballer who currently plays for English club Manchester United in the Premier League and the France national team. Originally an attacker, he primarily plays as a left back and is described as "the classic example of a modern full-back" who is...
gave away a free-kick 35 yards from goal, which Beckham crossed into the penalty area. Evra himself attempted an acrobatic clearance, but the ball only went as far as Ronaldinho
Ronaldinho
Ronaldo de Assis Moreira , commonly known as Ronaldinho or Ronaldinho Gaúcho, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Flamengo and the Brazilian national team as an attacking midfielder or forward. He is a two-time winner of the FIFA World Player of the Year, awarded to the best player over the year...
on the edge of the penalty area. The Brazilian forward volleyed the ball towards goal, and United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar dropped to his right to block its trajectory; however, Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the England national team. He has made more than 300 Premier League appearances and played in 50 UEFA Champions League games as of April 2011...
got in the way first and it deflected off his legs and past Van der Sar. United then survived several lapses in concentration throughout the first half before Paul Scholes
Paul Scholes
Paul Scholes is a retired English footballer, a one-club man who played his entire professional career for Manchester United.Born in Salford, but later moving to Langley, Scholes excelled in both cricket and football in school. He first trained with Manchester United at the age of 14 after being...
got their equaliser with 10 minutes left in the half; Darren Fletcher
Darren Fletcher
Darren Barr Fletcher is a Scottish footballer who plays as a central midfielder for English Premier League club Manchester United. He is the current captain of Scottish national team...
pulled a low cross back from the right side of the penalty area, and Scholes shaped to hit the ball with his right foot. He missed the ball, but it hit his standing leg and spun into the far corner of the goal past Dida's outstretched hand. United took the lead half-way through the second half via Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
; Antonio Valencia was played the ball on the right wing, and he beat Milan left-back Giuseppe Favalli
Giuseppe Favalli
Giuseppe Favalli is a retired Italian footballer who played as a defender for Serie A clubs Lazio, Internazionale and Milan.-Cremonese:He started his career with then-Serie B squad Cremonese...
before standing up a cross to the far post, which Rooney headed looping back over Dida's head. Eight minutes later, Rooney was on the scoresheet again as he ran unmarked into the Milan penalty area and headed Fletcher's lobbed pass past a static Dida. Clarence Seedorf
Clarence Seedorf
Clarence Clyde Seedorf OON is a Dutch footballer who currently plays as an attacking midfielder for Serie A club Milan. Seedorf is the first player to have won the Champions League with three different clubs - Ajax in 1995, Real Madrid in 1998 and Milan in 2003 and 2007...
pulled a goal back for Milan with five minutes left in the game, flicking the ball behind his right leg with his left foot, but United held on to win the match 3–2 and take three away goals
Away goals rule
The away goals rule is a method of breaking ties in association football and other sports when teams play each other twice, once at each team's home ground. By the away goals rule, the team that has scored more goals "away from home" will win if scores are otherwise equal...
back to Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
.
The second leg was played three weeks later on 10 March. Wayne Rooney had missed United's previous match against Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
with an injury, but he was passed fit for the Milan game. Meanwhile, David Beckham was left on the bench for Milan, and so he would have to wait to make his Old Trafford return. At the start of play, Milan needed to score at least two goals to stand a chance of going through to the quarter-finals, but United put the tie almost beyond doubt in the 13th minute; captain Gary Neville
Gary Neville
Gary Alexander Neville is a former English footballer. He is England's most capped right-back and was Manchester United's club captain for five years....
swung in a pin-point cross from deep on the right side and Rooney nodded the ball past Christian Abbiati
Christian Abbiati
Christian Abbiati is an Italian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Serie A club Milan.-Milan:His debut in Serie A came on January 17, 1999 as a 92nd-minute substitute for Sebastiano Rossi...
for his ninth consecutive headed goal. The score remained at 1–0 going into half-time, but Rooney doubled the lead within a minute of the restart, sliding the ball under the advancing Abbiati after Nani
Nani
-People:*Nani, a Portuguese footballer who plays for Manchester United*Gianluca Nani, former technical director at West Ham United*Nanabhoy Palkhivala, nicknamed Nani, an Indian jurist and economist*Nani Roma, a Spanish rally racing driver...
had played him in with a perfectly-weighted cross with the outside of his right foot. Park Ji-Sung
Park Ji-Sung
Park Ji-Sung is a South Korean footballer who plays as a midfielder for English club Manchester United. He was also the captain of the South Korean national team until his retirement from international football...
made it three on the night with a low shot to the far corner of the net after Scholes played him in with a disguised pass in the 59th minute. Beckham came on to rapturous applause five minutes later, and forced a save from Edwin van der Sar
Edwin van der Sar
Edwin van der Sar OON is a former footballer who played as a goalkeeper for AFC Ajax, Juventus, Fulham and Manchester United. He is the most capped player in the Netherlands national football team's history...
with a powerful volley from the edge of the area, but Darren Fletcher
Darren Fletcher
Darren Barr Fletcher is a Scottish footballer who plays as a central midfielder for English Premier League club Manchester United. He is the current captain of Scottish national team...
sealed a 4–0 win (7–2 on aggregate) with a header from Rafael
Rafael Pereira da Silva (footballer born 1990)
Rafael Pereira da Silva , commonly known as Rafael or Rafael da Silva, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Manchester United. He normally plays as a defender in a right back position, but can also play on the right side of midfield...
's deep cross.
The draw for the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final took place in Nyon on 19 March 2010. Unlike the round of 16 draw, there was no seeding or country protection in this draw, meaning that United could be drawn against fellow English side Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
or their Group B opponents CSKA Moscow. However, they were eventually drawn against Group A runners-up Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
, who they had famously played in the 1999 final
1999 UEFA Champions League Final
The 1999 UEFA Champions League Final was a football match that took place on Wednesday, 26 May 1999. The match was played at Camp Nou in Barcelona, Spain, to determine the winner of the 1998–99 UEFA Champions League. The final was contested by Manchester United and Bayern Munich...
. The first leg of the quarter-final will be played on 30 March 2010, while the second leg will be played a week later on 7 April. The semi-final draw took place immediately after the quarter-final draw, and United and Bayern were paired with the winners of the all-French quarter-final between Lyon
Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais is a French association football club based in Lyon. They play in France's highest football division, Ligue 1. The club was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950. The...
and Bordeaux
FC Girondins de Bordeaux
Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux is a French association football club based in the city of Bordeaux. The club currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, and won its last Ligue 1 title in the 2008–09 season....
.
United got off to the perfect start as Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
scored after just 64 seconds in the first leg at the Allianz Arena
Allianz Arena
The Allianz Arena is a football stadium in the north of Munich, Bavaria, Germany. The two professional Munich football clubs FC Bayern Munich and TSV 1860 München have played their home games at Allianz Arena since the start of the 2005–06 season...
against Bayern. However, for the remainder of the game United were poor and Bayern looked very likely to score an equaliser. That the equaliser came was no surprise, but that it took over 70 minutes to come was. Franck Ribéry
Franck Ribéry
Franck Ribéry is a French international footballer who currently plays for German club Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. He primarily plays as a winger, preferably on the left side, and is known for "pace, energy, skill and precise passing." Ribéry is described as a player who is "fast, tricky and...
fired a free-kick which took a deflection off Rooney and into the back of the net. United managed to hold on until deep into injury-time when Ivica Olić
Ivica Olic
Ivica Olić is a Croatian professional footballer who plays for Bayern Munich in Germany and internationally for the Croatian national team.- Early career :Olić was born and raised in the village of Davor near Nova Gradiška, Croatia, Yugoslavia...
scored from close range after Patrice Evra
Patrice Evra
Patrice Latyr Evra is a French international footballer who currently plays for English club Manchester United in the Premier League and the France national team. Originally an attacker, he primarily plays as a left back and is described as "the classic example of a modern full-back" who is...
dithered on the ball. To make matters worse, Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team...
was injured in the build-up to the late winner and was reported to be unavailable for the return leg at Old Trafford eight days later.
However, the second leg saw Wayne Rooney get a surprise start after Sir Alex had claimed that he wouldn't risk making the injury any worse. The striker got involved early by setting up Darron Gibson's third minute goal to give United the advantage. Four minutes later, Nani scored a second with a clever flick set up by Antonio Valencia. Nani netted again with a strike from range after Rooney had failed to control Rafael's cross. With a two goal advantage on aggregate and an away goal from the first leg, United were in the driving seat but a close range goal from Olić before half time altered the mood, meaning that Bayern only needed one more goal to be heading through. In the second half, an early sending off for Rafael weakened the side and chances came few and far between, especially as Nani was left to play alone up front following Rooney being substituted for John O'Shea. The reds came close to perhaps sealing the game when Evra put Nani through on goal, but the winger was unable to beat the goalkeeper. With quarter of an hour to go, Arjen Robben
Arjen Robben
Arjen Robben is a Dutch footballer who plays for the German Bundesliga club Bayern Munich. Though often classified as a forward, he usually plays behind the forwards as a winger, and he is also known for his dribbling skills...
volleyed into the low left hand corner and put Bayern Munich back in the driving seat, levelling the aggregate score. The score remained the same until the end and United were knocked out on away goals.
| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F – A |
Scorers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 February 2010 | First knockout round First leg |
Milan A.C. Milan Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others... |
A | 3 – 2 | Scholes Paul Scholes Paul Scholes is a retired English footballer, a one-club man who played his entire professional career for Manchester United.Born in Salford, but later moving to Langley, Scholes excelled in both cricket and football in school. He first trained with Manchester United at the age of 14 after being... 36', Rooney Wayne Rooney Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team... (2) 66', 74' |
78,587 |
| 10 March 2010 | First knockout round Second leg |
Milan A.C. Milan Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others... |
H | 4 – 0 | Rooney Wayne Rooney Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team... (2) 13', 46', Park Park Ji-Sung Park Ji-Sung is a South Korean footballer who plays as a midfielder for English club Manchester United. He was also the captain of the South Korean national team until his retirement from international football... 59', Fletcher Darren Fletcher Darren Barr Fletcher is a Scottish footballer who plays as a central midfielder for English Premier League club Manchester United. He is the current captain of Scottish national team... 88' |
74,595 |
| 30 March 2010 | Quarter-final First leg |
Bayern Munich FC Bayern Munich FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups.... |
A | 1 – 2 | Rooney Wayne Rooney Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team... 2' |
66,000 |
| 7 April 2010 | Quarter-final Second leg |
Bayern Munich FC Bayern Munich FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups.... |
H | 3 – 2 | Gibson Darron Gibson Darron Thomas Daniel Gibson is an Irish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the Republic of Ireland national team... 3', Nani Nani -People:*Nani, a Portuguese footballer who plays for Manchester United*Gianluca Nani, former technical director at West Ham United*Nanabhoy Palkhivala, nicknamed Nani, an Indian jurist and economist*Nani Roma, a Spanish rally racing driver... (2) 7', 41' |
74,482 |
Squad statistics
| No. | Pos. | Name | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | Discipline | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |  |
 |
|||
| 1 | GK |  Edwin van der SarEdwin van der Sar Edwin van der Sar OON is a former footballer who played as a goalkeeper for AFC Ajax, Juventus, Fulham and Manchester United. He is the most capped player in the Netherlands national football team's history... |
21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | Gary Neville Gary Neville Gary Alexander Neville is a former English footballer. He is England's most capped right-back and was Manchester United's club captain for five years.... |
15(2) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3(1) | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25(3) | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| 3 | DF |  Patrice EvraPatrice Evra Patrice Latyr Evra is a French international footballer who currently plays for English club Manchester United in the Premier League and the France national team. Originally an attacker, he primarily plays as a left back and is described as "the classic example of a modern full-back" who is... |
37(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7(2) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 48(3) | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | Owen Hargreaves Owen Hargreaves Owen Lee Hargreaves is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for English Premier League club Manchester City and the English national football team.... |
0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | Rio Ferdinand Rio Ferdinand Rio Gavin Ferdinand is an English footballer. He plays at centre back for Manchester United in the Premier League and for the England national football team... |
12(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 20(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | Wes Brown Wes Brown Wesley Michael "Wes" Brown is an English footballer who plays as a defender for Sunderland. Before joining Sunderland, Brown had spent his entire career at Old Trafford, having joined the Manchester United youth team in 1996... |
18(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4(1) | 0 | 2(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25(4) | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | Michael Owen Michael Owen Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997... |
5(14) | 3 | 0(1) | 0 | 3(1) | 2 | 3(3) | 4 | 0(1) | 0 | 11(20) | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | MF |  AndersonAnderson Luís de Abreu Oliveira Anderson Luís de Abreu Oliveira , best known as Anderson, is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the Brazil national team.... |
10(4) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19(4) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | FW |  Dimitar BerbatovDimitar Berbatov Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a forward for Manchester United. He captained the Bulgarian national team from 2006 to 2010, and is its all-time leading goalscorer and has also won the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year a record seven times, surpassing the number of... |
24(9) | 12 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1(5) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 29(14) | 12 | 3 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | Wayne Rooney Wayne Rooney Wayne Mark Rooney is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team... |
32 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 2(1) | 2 | 6(1) | 5 | 1 | 1 | 42(2) | 34 | 8 | 0 |
| 11 | MF |  Ryan GiggsRyan Giggs Ryan Joseph Giggs OBE is a Welsh professional footballer who plays for Manchester United. Giggs made his first appearance for the club during the 1990–91 season and has been a regular player since the 1991–92 season... |
20(5) | 5 | 0(1) | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1(2) | 1 | 0(1) | 0 | 23(9) | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | GK | Ben Foster Ben Foster (footballer) Benjamin Anthony "Ben" Foster is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for West Bromwich Albion, on loan from Birmingham City, and internationally for the England national team.-Stoke City:... |
9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | MF |  Park Ji-SungPark Ji-Sung Park Ji-Sung is a South Korean footballer who plays as a midfielder for English club Manchester United. He was also the captain of the South Korean national team until his retirement from international football... |
10(7) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5(1) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 18(8) | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | MF |  Zoran TošićZoran Tošic Zoran Tošić is a Serbian footballer who plays as a left winger for CSKA Moscow. Born in Zrenjanin, Tošić began his career with his local side Proleter Zrenjanin. He then joined Budućnost Banatski Dvor, who then merged with Proleter to form Banat Zrenjanin... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(2) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | Nemanja Vidić Nemanja Vidic Nemanja Vidić is a Serbian footballer who captains English Premier League club Manchester United. He was part of the Serbia national football team from 2002 to 2011.... |
24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 1 | 12 | 1 |
| 16 | MF | Michael Carrick Michael Carrick Michael Carrick is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the England national team. He has made more than 300 Premier League appearances and played in 50 UEFA Champions League games as of April 2011... |
22(8) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4(1) | 1 | 6(2) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 33(11) | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| 17 | MF |  NaniNani -People:*Nani, a Portuguese footballer who plays for Manchester United*Gianluca Nani, former technical director at West Ham United*Nanabhoy Palkhivala, nicknamed Nani, an Indian jurist and economist*Nani Roma, a Spanish rally racing driver... |
19(4) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 30(4) | 7 | 2 | 1 |
| 18 | MF | Paul Scholes Paul Scholes Paul Scholes is a retired English footballer, a one-club man who played his entire professional career for Manchester United.Born in Salford, but later moving to Langley, Scholes excelled in both cricket and football in school. He first trained with Manchester United at the age of 14 after being... |
24(4) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1(1) | 1 | 7 | 3 | 0(1) | 0 | 32(6) | 7 | 13 | 1 |
| 19 | FW | Danny Welbeck Danny Welbeck Daniel Nii Tackie Mensah "Danny" Welbeck is an English footballer who plays for Manchester United and the England national football team. He is a centre forward who can also play on the wing.... |
1(4) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7(4) | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | DF | Fábio Fábio Pereira da Silva Fábio Pereira da Silva , commonly known as Fábio or Fábio da Silva, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a full-back for Manchester United of the Premier League, along with his twin brother, Rafael, who were signed by Manchester United in February 2007.-Early life:Fábio was born in Petrópolis,... |
1(4) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 6(5) | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 21 | DF | Rafael Rafael Pereira da Silva (footballer born 1990) Rafael Pereira da Silva , commonly known as Rafael or Rafael da Silva, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Manchester United. He normally plays as a defender in a right back position, but can also play on the right side of midfield... |
8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15(1) | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| 22 | DF |  John O'SheaJohn O'Shea John O'Shea can refer to:*John O'Shea, Irish footballer with Sunderland*John O'Shea , New Zealand film director*John O'Shea *John O'Shea , Wales international rugby union footballer*John O'Shea... |
12(3) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15(4) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | DF |  Jonny EvansJonny Evans Jonathan Grant "Jonny" Evans is a Northern Irish footballer who plays as a defender for Manchester United and Northern Ireland. Evans was born in Belfast and started his career at Greenisland FC, where he was spotted by Manchester United scouts. He progressed through Manchester United's football... |
18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 24 | MF |  Darren FletcherDarren Fletcher Darren Barr Fletcher is a Scottish footballer who plays as a central midfielder for English Premier League club Manchester United. He is the current captain of Scottish national team... |
29(1) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6(1) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 39(2) | 5 | 7 | 1 |
| 25 | MF |  Antonio Valencia |
29(5) | 5 | 0(1) | 0 | 2(2) | 0 | 6(3) | 2 | 0(1) | 0 | 37(12) | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| 26 | FW | Gabriel Obertan Gabriel Obertan Gabriel Antoine Obertan is a French footballer who plays for Newcastle United in the Premier League. He primarily plays as a winger, but can also play in the centre of midfield and as a striker.... |
1(6) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5(8) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 27 | FW |  Federico MachedaFederico Macheda Federico "Kiko" Macheda is an Italian footballer who plays as a striker for English Premier League club Manchester United. He joined Manchester United from Lazio in September 2007.-Early career:Macheda began his football career with Lazio... |
1(4) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2(1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5(5) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 28 | MF | Darron Gibson Darron Gibson Darron Thomas Daniel Gibson is an Irish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Manchester United and the Republic of Ireland national team... |
6(9) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2(1) | 2 | 3(1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12(11) | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| 29 | GK |  Tomasz KuszczakTomasz Kuszczak Tomasz Mirosław Kuszczak is a Polish footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for English club Manchester United and the Polish national team.Born in Krosno Odrzańskie, Kuszczak has previously played for Śląsk Wrocław in Poland, as well as for the German clubs KFC Uerdingen 05 and Hertha BSC, before... |
8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | DF |  Ritchie De Laet |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3(2) | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 31 | MF | Corry Evans Corry Evans Corry John Evans is a Northern Irish footballer who plays as a midfielder or centre back for Hull City. A Northern Ireland under-21 and senior international, he came through the Manchester United youth academy, like his older brother, United team centre back Jonny Evans... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | FW |  Mame Biram DioufMame Biram Diouf Mame Biram Diouf is a Senegalese footballer who plays as a forward for English club Manchester United and the Senegal national football team.... |
0(5) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(6) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 33 | MF | Sam Hewson Sam Hewson Sam Hewson is an English footballer who was last attached to Altrincham. He had previously played for Manchester United, before his release in July 2010. His regular position is as a central midfielder.-Early career:... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | MF | Tom Cleverley Tom Cleverley Thomas William "Tom" Cleverley is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder in the Premier League for Manchester United.... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | DF | David Gray |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 37 | DF | Craig Cathcart Craig Cathcart Craig George Cathcart is a Northern Irish footballer who plays as a centre back for Blackpool and the Northern Ireland national team... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | GK | Ron-Robert Zieler Ron-Robert Zieler Ron-Robert Zieler is a German footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Hannover 96 and the German national team.-Early career:... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | DF | James Chester James Chester James Grant Chester is an English footballer who plays for Hull City as a centre back. He has also played on loan for Peterborough United, Plymouth Argyle and Carlisle United.-Career:... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | GK | Ben Amos Ben Amos Benjamin Paul "Ben" Amos is an English footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Manchester United. Born in Macclesfield, Cheshire, Amos began his career with Crewe Alexandra's youth academy, but joined Manchester United at the age of 11. He has spent time on loan at Peterborough United, Molde, and... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 41 | FW |  Joshua KingJoshua King (footballer) Joshua Christian Kojo King is a Norwegian footballer who plays for German club Borussia Mönchengladbach, on loan from Manchester United. He usually plays as a forward, but he is also able to play as a winger... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 42 | MF | Magnus Eikrem Magnus Wolff Eikrem Magnus Wolff Eikrem is a Norwegian footballer who plays for Molde in the Norwegian Premier League. His regular playing position is in attacking midfield, though he can play anywhere across the midfield... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 43 | MF | Matthew James Matthew James (footballer) Matthew Lee "Matty" James is an English footballer who plays for Manchester United. His regular position is in midfield, but he can play in defence when required.-Manchester United:... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 44 | DF | Joe Dudgeon Joe Dudgeon Joseph Patrick "Joe" Dudgeon is an English-born Northern Irish footballer. Born in Leeds, Dudgeon plays as a left back for Hull City, although he can also play as a centre back.-Manchester United:... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 45 | DF | Oliver Gill Oliver Gill Oliver David Gill is an English former footballer who played as a defender for Manchester United. He also played for Bradford City on loan in 2010... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 46 | MF | Cameron Stewart Cameron Stewart (footballer) Cameron Reece Stewart is an English footballer who plays for Hull City. He is played primarily as a winger, but he can also play as an out-and-out striker.-Manchester United:... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 47 | MF | Oliver Norwood Oliver Norwood Oliver James Norwood is an English-born Northern Irish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Scunthorpe United on loan from Manchester United... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| – | – | Own goals | – | 10 | – | 0 | – | 0 | – | 0 | – | 0 | – | 10 | – | – |
Statistics accurate as of match played 9 May 2010
Transfers
United announced early in the transfer window that they had agreed a world record fee of £80 million to sell Cristiano RonaldoCristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, OIH, , commonly known as Cristiano Ronaldo, is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a winger or striker for Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid and is the captain of the Portuguese national team...
to Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
. Shortly after this, they confirmed that Carlos Tévez
Carlos Tévez
Carlos Alberto Tévez is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for English club Manchester City...
, who had been on loan with the club for two seasons, had not taken up the offer of a permanent contract. Tévez would later sign for United's local rivals, Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
. Lee Martin, Fraizer Campbell
Fraizer Campbell
Fraizer Lee Campbell is an English footballer who plays for Sunderland as a striker. He previously played for Manchester United, Royal Antwerp, Hull City and Tottenham Hotspur....
, Richard Eckersley
Richard Eckersley (footballer)
Richard Jon Eckersley is an English footballer who plays as a full back for Canadian club Toronto FC in Major League Soccer, on loan from Burnley....
and Manucho
Manucho
Mateus Alberto Contreiras Gonçalves , better known as Manucho, is an Angolan footballer who currently plays for Real Valladolid.He moved from Petro Atletico to Manchester United in January 2008...
also left the club.
After the departures of Ronaldo and Tévez, United sought a new striker, and Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema is a French international footballer who currently plays for Real Madrid in the Spanish La Liga. He primarily plays as a striker whose influence can extend out to the wings and is known for his technical ability, powerful style of play, and vast goal-scoring ability...
(who eventually signed for Real Madrid
Real Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
) was one player they courted. Despite the record deal for Ronaldo, United opted for a cheaper deal in the end, signing free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
Michael Owen
Michael Owen
Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997...
after his contract with Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
had expired. The signing of a former Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
star caused some consternation amongst supporters of both clubs. Antonio Valencia and Gabriel Obertan
Gabriel Obertan
Gabriel Antoine Obertan is a French footballer who plays for Newcastle United in the Premier League. He primarily plays as a winger, but can also play in the centre of midfield and as a striker....
also joined, and Alex Ferguson
Alex Ferguson
Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE is a Scottish association football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United, where he has been in charge since 1986...
announced that his buying for the transfer window was over. However, a few days later, Mame Biram Diouf
Mame Biram Diouf
Mame Biram Diouf is a Senegalese footballer who plays as a forward for English club Manchester United and the Senegal national football team....
also signed; the club explained that Diouf was originally going to sign in the next January transfer window, but that they had hurried the signing after other clubs became interested in the player.
In the winter transfer window, Danny Simpson
Danny Simpson
Daniel Peter "Danny" Simpson is an English footballer who plays as a right back for Premier League club Newcastle United. A product of the Manchester United academy, Simpson has also played on loan for Sunderland, Ipswich Town and Blackburn Rovers in England and Royal Antwerp in Belgium...
left for Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
. Goalkeeper Ben Foster
Ben Foster (footballer)
Benjamin Anthony "Ben" Foster is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for West Bromwich Albion, on loan from Birmingham City, and internationally for the England national team.-Stoke City:...
left in May, signing for Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
. Both Simpson and Foster left for undisclosed fees.
In
| Date | Pos. | Name | From | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 June 2009 | MF | Antonio Valencia |
Wigan Athletic Wigan Athletic F.C. Wigan Athletic Football Club is an English Premier League Association football club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester, having been promoted from the Championship in 2005. Wigan's current spell in the Premier League is the only top flight run in the club's history.They have played at the DW... |
Undisclosed |
| 3 July 2009 | FW | Michael Owen Michael Owen Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997... |
Unattached | Free |
| 8 July 2009 | FW | Gabriel Obertan Gabriel Obertan Gabriel Antoine Obertan is a French footballer who plays for Newcastle United in the Premier League. He primarily plays as a winger, but can also play in the centre of midfield and as a striker.... |
France Bordeaux FC Girondins de Bordeaux Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux is a French association football club based in the city of Bordeaux. The club currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, and won its last Ligue 1 title in the 2008–09 season.... |
Undisclosed |
| 30 July 2009 | FW | Mame Biram Diouf Mame Biram Diouf Mame Biram Diouf is a Senegalese footballer who plays as a forward for English club Manchester United and the Senegal national football team.... |
Molde |
Undisclosed |
Out
| Date | Pos. | Name | To | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 July 2009 | MF | Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, OIH, , commonly known as Cristiano Ronaldo, is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a winger or striker for Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid and is the captain of the Portuguese national team... |
 Real MadridReal Madrid C.F. Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la... |
£80m |
| 6 July 2009 | MF | Lee Martin |
Ipswich Town Ipswich Town F.C. Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02.... |
Undisclosed |
| 11 July 2009 | FW | Fraizer Campbell Fraizer Campbell Fraizer Lee Campbell is an English footballer who plays for Sunderland as a striker. He previously played for Manchester United, Royal Antwerp, Hull City and Tottenham Hotspur.... |
Sunderland Sunderland A.F.C. Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League... |
£3.5m |
| 15 July 2009 | DF | Richard Eckersley Richard Eckersley (footballer) Richard Jon Eckersley is an English footballer who plays as a full back for Canadian club Toronto FC in Major League Soccer, on loan from Burnley.... |
Burnley Burnley F.C. Burnley Football Club are a professional English Football League club based in Burnley, Lancashire. Nicknamed the Clarets, due to the dominant colour of their home shirts, they were founder members of the Football League in 1888... |
Tribunal (£500k) |
| 17 July 2009 | FW |  ManuchoManucho Mateus Alberto Contreiras Gonçalves , better known as Manucho, is an Angolan footballer who currently plays for Real Valladolid.He moved from Petro Atletico to Manchester United in January 2008... |
Real Valladolid Real Valladolid Real Valladolid Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valladolid, in the autonomous community of Castile and León, from where the nickname Pucela is derived.... |
Undisclosed |
| 20 January 2010 | DF | Danny Simpson Danny Simpson Daniel Peter "Danny" Simpson is an English footballer who plays as a right back for Premier League club Newcastle United. A product of the Manchester United academy, Simpson has also played on loan for Sunderland, Ipswich Town and Blackburn Rovers in England and Royal Antwerp in Belgium... |
Newcastle United Newcastle United F.C. Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger... |
Undisclosed |
| 19 May 2010 | GK | Ben Foster Ben Foster (footballer) Benjamin Anthony "Ben" Foster is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for West Bromwich Albion, on loan from Birmingham City, and internationally for the England national team.-Stoke City:... |
Birmingham City Birmingham City F.C. Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the... |
Undisclosed |
Loan out
| Date from | Date to | Pos. | Name | Moving to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 July 2009 | 30 June 2010 | MF | Rodrigo Possebon Rodrigo Possebon Rodrigo Pereira Possebon is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Santos and, by virtue of his ancestry, the Italian U-20 national team. He signed for Santos from Manchester United on 20 August 2010... |
Braga |
| 5 August 2009 | 31 December 2009 | FW | Mame Biram Diouf Mame Biram Diouf Mame Biram Diouf is a Senegalese footballer who plays as a forward for English club Manchester United and the Senegal national football team.... |
Molde |
| 13 August 2009 | 30 June 2010 | MF | Daniel Drinkwater |
Huddersfield Town Huddersfield Town F.C. Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One... |
| 14 August 2009 | 18 January 2010 | DF | Danny Simpson Danny Simpson Daniel Peter "Danny" Simpson is an English footballer who plays as a right back for Premier League club Newcastle United. A product of the Manchester United academy, Simpson has also played on loan for Sunderland, Ipswich Town and Blackburn Rovers in England and Royal Antwerp in Belgium... |
Newcastle United Newcastle United F.C. Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger... |
| 14 August 2009 | 14 November 2009 | GK | Tom Heaton |
Queens Park Rangers Queens Park Rangers F.C. Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years... |
| 17 August 2009 | 30 June 2010 | MF | Tom Cleverley Tom Cleverley Thomas William "Tom" Cleverley is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder in the Premier League for Manchester United.... |
Watford Watford F.C. Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade... |
| 31 August 2009 | 30 September 2009 | DF | Scott Moffatt |
Altrincham Altrincham F.C. Altrincham Football Club is an English association football club from Altrincham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Conference North, having been relegated from the Conference National at the end of the 2010–11 season.-History:... |
| 15 September 2009 | 4 January 2010 | DF | Craig Cathcart Craig Cathcart Craig George Cathcart is a Northern Irish footballer who plays as a centre back for Blackpool and the Northern Ireland national team... |
Watford Watford F.C. Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade... |
| 21 September 2009 | 19 December 2009 | DF | David Gray |
Plymouth Argyle Plymouth Argyle F.C. Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the... |
| 21 September 2009 | 19 December 2009 | DF | James Chester James Chester James Grant Chester is an English footballer who plays for Hull City as a centre back. He has also played on loan for Peterborough United, Plymouth Argyle and Carlisle United.-Career:... |
Plymouth Argyle Plymouth Argyle F.C. Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the... |
| 29 October 2009 | 25 November 2009 | GK | Ben Amos Ben Amos Benjamin Paul "Ben" Amos is an English footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Manchester United. Born in Macclesfield, Cheshire, Amos began his career with Crewe Alexandra's youth academy, but joined Manchester United at the age of 11. He has spent time on loan at Peterborough United, Molde, and... |
Peterborough United Peterborough United F.C. Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is... |
| 6 November 2009 | 16 January 2010 | FW | Febian Brandy Febian Brandy Febian Earlston Brandy is an English footballer who played for Notts County until the end of the 2010-11 season but is now a free agent, having been released by Manchester United at the end of his contract on 30 June 2010... |
Gillingham Gillingham F.C. Gillingham Football Club is an English professional football club based in the town of Gillingham, Kent. The only Kent-based club in the Football League, they play their home matches at the Priestfield Stadium... |
| 13 November 2009 | 31 January 2010 | GK | Tom Heaton |
Rochdale Rochdale A.F.C. Rochdale Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. They play their home matches at Spotland Stadium. Formed in 1907, they were accepted into the Football League in 1921... |
| 25 January 2010 | 30 June 2010 | FW | Danny Welbeck Danny Welbeck Daniel Nii Tackie Mensah "Danny" Welbeck is an English footballer who plays for Manchester United and the England national football team. He is a centre forward who can also play on the wing.... |
Preston North End Preston North End F.C. Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One... |
| 27 January 2010 | 30 June 2010 | MF | Zoran Tošić Zoran Tošic Zoran Tošić is a Serbian footballer who plays as a left winger for CSKA Moscow. Born in Zrenjanin, Tošić began his career with his local side Proleter Zrenjanin. He then joined Budućnost Banatski Dvor, who then merged with Proleter to form Banat Zrenjanin... |
Köln 1. FC Köln 1. FC Köln is a German association football club based in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia. It was formed in 1948 as a merger of the clubs Kölner Ballspiel-Club 1901 and SpVgg Sülz 07.... |
| 1 February 2010 | 8 May 2010 | MF | Sam Hewson Sam Hewson Sam Hewson is an English footballer who was last attached to Altrincham. He had previously played for Manchester United, before his release in July 2010. His regular position is as a central midfielder.-Early career:... |
Bury Bury F.C. Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the... |
| 9 February 2010 | 12 May 2010 | MF | Matthew James Matthew James (footballer) Matthew Lee "Matty" James is an English footballer who plays for Manchester United. His regular position is in midfield, but he can play in defence when required.-Manchester United:... |
Preston North End Preston North End F.C. Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One... |
| 12 February 2010 | 8 May 2010 | GK | Tom Heaton |
Wycombe Wanderers Wycombe Wanderers F.C. Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play... |
| 15 March 2010 | 10 June 2010 | GK | Ben Amos Ben Amos Benjamin Paul "Ben" Amos is an English footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Manchester United. Born in Macclesfield, Cheshire, Amos began his career with Crewe Alexandra's youth academy, but joined Manchester United at the age of 11. He has spent time on loan at Peterborough United, Molde, and... |
Molde |
External links
- Season 2009/10 at StretfordEnd.co.uk