Manchester United 2025/26 Season Review: Fernandes Shines and Carrick Leads

Manchester United’s season is over. The Champions League is back on the menu. And Michael Carrick has the job for keeps.

After two barren years, a third-place finish and a clear sense of direction have dragged United back towards something resembling their old standards. It was a season of redemption for some, a farewell tour for others, and a coronation for one man in particular: Bruno Fernandes.

Here is how the squad measured up in 2025/26.

Goalkeepers

Senne Lammens – 9

Nobody saw this coming. Lammens arrived without fanfare and ended the season as one of the best goalkeepers in the league. Commanding, reliable, and calm when United needed him most, he turned a supposed problem position into a genuine strength. This was an outstanding debut campaign, and there’s a strong sense he’s only just getting started.

Altay Bayindir – 3.5

At the other end of the spectrum, Bayindir’s season unravelled almost immediately. Costly errors in the early months turned tight games into dropped points, and with them went any realistic tilt at the title. By the time Lammens had nailed down the shirt, Bayindir’s United career felt effectively over. It would be a surprise to see him here next season.

Full-backs

Luke Shaw – 7.5

Fit. Consistent. Dangerous. Shaw finally delivered the kind of sustained run United have craved for years. He stayed on the pitch, drove the team forward, and even capped his campaign with a goal against Nottingham Forest. If he can repeat this physically and mentally next year, United’s left flank is in safe hands.

Diogo Dalot – 7.5

Carrick’s arrival changed Dalot’s season. Restored to a more natural full-back role, he looked liberated, aggressive in his pressing and intelligent in his use of the ball. Since January, he has been one of the first names on the teamsheet. From squad option to near ever-present, this was a major step up.

Patrick Dorgu – 6.5

There was a spell, from late December into January, when Dorgu looked like he might explode into the season. Dynamic, adventurous, he offered real thrust at left-back. Then injury struck and halted everything. The glimpses were good enough to demand more opportunities next year, if his body allows.

Noussair Mazraoui – 5

Twelve months ago, Mazraoui looked like a shrewd piece of business. This season, he never got close to those levels. The sharpness, the energy, the influence on games all faded. By the end, the question wasn’t how to get him back into the XI, but whether United should cash in while they still can.

Tyrell Malacia – 2

Barely a footnote. Two substitute appearances, both against Newcastle, did nothing to change the picture. His most memorable moment was being turned inside out by William Osula. With his departure already confirmed on a free, his United story ends with a whimper.

Centre-backs

Leny Yoro – 6.5

A season of flickers rather than flames. Yoro showed why so many rate him so highly: composure on the ball, the athleticism to recover, the promise of a top defender. But he never fully convinced as a starter. More minutes should come next year, whether at Old Trafford or out on loan, and they will be crucial for his development.

Harry Maguire – 7.5

Written off, then reborn. Maguire earned himself a new deal by doing what he does best: defending his box, leading the line, and showing resilience when others faltered. Carrick trusted him, and Maguire repaid that faith with regular, reliable performances. With Champions League football on the horizon, his experience will matter.

Lisandro Martinez – 7

The pattern is now painfully familiar. When Martinez plays, United look sharper, more aggressive, more secure. But he simply doesn’t play often enough. Injuries once again disrupted his rhythm and the team’s. Over the next 12 months, United may have to plan as if he is a luxury rather than a cornerstone.

Matthijs de Ligt – 5

The start promised something big. De Ligt opened the campaign in imposing form, drawing praise from the likes of Rio Ferdinand, who called him United’s best defender. Then December came, injury followed, and his season disappeared into the treatment room. The surgery is done; next year must be about proving he can stay fit and dominate.

Ayden Heaven – 8

Heaven lived up to his name more often than not. Whenever he started, he looked untouchable: composed in possession, assured in duels, and mature beyond his years. The only frustration was the lack of matches limiting his involvement. On form alone, he has a strong case to start ahead of Martinez going into next season.

Tyler Fredricson – 2

This was supposed to be a breakthrough year. Instead, Fredricson hasn’t played a single minute since the humbling at Grimsby in August. With opportunities drying up and the squad evolving, a summer exit feels almost inevitable.

Midfield

Bruno Fernandes – 10

This was his masterpiece. Fernandes didn’t just carry United; he dominated the Premier League. He swept up every individual award on offer and equalled the league’s assist record, orchestrating games with a blend of invention and relentlessness that few can match. United are fortunate to have him at the peak of his powers. Call him what you like – talisman, captain, standard-bearer – but after a campaign like this, the conversation about his place among the club’s greats is no longer premature.

Casemiro – 9

If this was goodbye, it was on his terms. Casemiro signed off with the highest goal tally of his career, a remarkable flourish for a holding midfielder in his thirties. He anchored, he scored, he led. By the end, he had etched himself into United folklore as a cult hero, the veteran who refused to fade quietly.

Kobbie Mainoo – 8

From the brink of the exit door to a long-term contract and a central role. Mainoo’s resurgence after Ruben Amorim’s departure was one of the season’s most encouraging storylines. He reclaimed his starting spot, dictated games with calm authority, and reminded everyone why the club fought so hard to keep him. A special talent, now back on track.

Manuel Ugarte – 3.5

For United supporters, Ugarte’s introduction became a warning sign. Too often his appearances coincided with the team losing control of matches. The balance slipped, the midfield sagged, and results went with it. By the end of the campaign, trust had evaporated. A summer sale now feels less like an option and more like a solution.

Mason Mount – 5.5

There was a moment early in the season when it looked like Mount might finally click under Amorim. Then the injuries returned, the rhythm vanished, and his role shrank. With United evolving and competition fierce, it is hard to see a clear path for him beyond this season. The club may decide this is the time to cash in.

Jack Fletcher – 5

A debut to remember for the wrong reasons. Miscast in a more defensive role against Newcastle, Fletcher struggled to impose himself or protect the back line. The talent is there, but the profiling wasn’t. He should see more minutes next season, ideally in a role that suits his strengths.

Tyler Fletcher – 5.5

One appearance, one glimpse of what might come. Unlike his twin, Tyler played in his natural position and looked far more comfortable, showing confidence on the ball and a willingness to take responsibility. A tiny sample, but a promising one.

Forwards

Matheus Cunha – 8

Slow start, strong finish. Cunha’s debut season grew with each passing month, and he ended with 10 league goals, a return that reflects his adaptation to the shirt and the stage. He offers movement, work rate, and a growing penalty-box presence. If this is the baseline, next year could be explosive.

Benjamin Sesko – 8

From “worst signing of the summer” to one of its quiet successes. Sesko answered his critics with 11 league goals in just 17 starts, a ratio that underlines his threat when given service and trust. He bullied defences, attacked space, and gave United a different dimension up front. This was a very solid first year.

Bryan Mbeumo – 7.5

Double figures for goals, clever movement, and a real edge in the final third – at least for a while. Mbeumo’s form dipped under Carrick just as others were kicking on, and that drop-off costs him a higher rating. Even so, his debut season delivered enough to justify his signing and hint at more to come.

Amad Diallo – 5.5

After lighting up 2024/25, Amad entered this season with big expectations on his shoulders. He didn’t meet them. His overall play remained bright, but poor finishing left him with just two goals and a nagging sense of what might have been. Confidence is the key now. He needs to reset and come back sharper.

Joshua Zirkzee – 4

The talent is visible in flashes – the touch, the link-up play, the odd moment of flair. But across the season, Zirkzee never convinced as a long-term fit for United’s attack. This campaign has likely settled the argument. A move in the summer looks the logical outcome for all parties.

Shea Lacey – 7

Cameos with real sparkle. Lacey looked far too good for academy football whenever he stepped onto the pitch, only for his narrative to be clouded by a red card in the FA Cup. Even that didn’t fully dim the excitement. If his stunning effort against Burnley had found the net, we’d be talking about one of the goals of the season. Expect him to feature heavily next year.

Bendito Mantato – 5

A season of small steps. Mantato featured without truly forcing his way into the core rotation, offering glimpses rather than statements. The tools are there; the question now is whether he can turn potential into presence when the stakes rise again.

Manchester United are back in the Champions League, Carrick has a platform, and Fernandes has delivered a campaign for the ages. The rebuild is no longer theoretical. The question now is simple: does this squad kick on and chase a title, or will 2025/26 be remembered as the high point before another reset?