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Manchester United’s 2025/26 campaign was truly a story of two contrasting halves. Despite spending over £200 million on new signings during the summer, the Red Devils struggled to find consistency in the early part of the season.

When results failed to improve and a top-four finish began to look doubtful, the Premier League powerhouse decided to part ways with head coach Ruben Amorim in January. By that point, United had recorded eight wins and five defeats in 20 league matches and had also been eliminated from the EFL Cup.

Following a 2-2 draw against Burnley under interim boss Darren Fletcher, INEOS appointed Michael Carrick as caretaker manager for the remainder of the season. His immediate task was to steady the ship and secure Champions League qualification. The Englishman delivered impressively, guiding United to 12 wins and just two defeats in 17 matches.

Under Carrick, United shifted away from Amorim’s 3-4-3 formation and adopted a fluid 4-2-3-1 setup, bringing back the exciting, attacking football that supporters had been longing for. Carrick’s tactical changes led to a third-place finish in the Premier League and secured a Champions League berth for the following season, earning him the full-time managerial role.

Recently released Premier League statistics have shed light on the influence of new signing Bryan Mbeumo during the campaign.

Signed from Brentford, Mbeumo was brought in to inject pace and creativity into United’s attack, which had managed only 44 goals in the 2024/25 season. While Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko needed time to adapt to life at Old Trafford, the Cameroonian forward made an immediate impact, using his explosive speed to add a new dimension to United’s offensive play.

The 26-year-old showcased his blistering pace early on, particularly in the August clash against Fulham. In his second Premier League appearance, he hit a top speed of 36.34 km/h while chasing a long pass from Manuel Ugarte during a counter-attack. Although Antonee Robinson managed to clear the ball before Mbeumo reached it, that sprint placed him seventh among the Premier League’s fastest players for the season, with Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Jackson Tchatchoua taking top spot.

Mbeumo ended the season as United’s joint-top scorer alongside Sesko, both netting 12 goals across all competitions. Cunha also reached double digits, but the standout performer remained club captain Bruno Fernandes.

Fernandes enjoyed a record-breaking campaign, capturing the Premier League’s Player of the Season award after registering the most assists (21) ever recorded in a single Premier League season. He also picked up the FWA Footballer of the Year and the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year honours.

The Portuguese playmaker created 136 chances in league play — the highest in the competition by a considerable margin — and wrapped up the season with nine goals and 22 assists across all competitions.

Further statistics revealed that the 31-year-old covered more distance than any other United player during the 2025/26 campaign, running a total of 373.87 km in 3,066 minutes of first-team action. For perspective, former United academy graduate James Garner led the entire Premier League in distance covered last season with an impressive 415.46 km.

Interestingly, no other Manchester United player featured among the Premier League’s top 15 fastest players, suggesting that INEOS may look to add more pace to the squad in the upcoming transfer window. The numbers also underline Fernandes’ exceptional work ethic and influence, reaffirming his status as the team’s leader both on and off the pitch.