If you’re excited, you must either be putting a brave face on, a pathological liar, or just a diehard Jose Mourinho fan/apologist.
Between a horde of academy prospects stepping into the limelight in America this summer with a large contingent of United’s World Cup stars enjoying an extended break, and the lacklustre results against Club America, San Jose Earthquakes and Liverpool, optimism is not high going into 2018/19.
With the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford set to be eased back into the squad following their exertions in Russia, not to mention Nemanja Matic set to miss the big kick-off due to an injury picked up at the World Cup that required surgery, United already look like they’re going to be playing catch-up.
Oh, how can we forget a frustrating summer in which United have dawdled in the transfer market, with Brazilian midfielder Fred the sole acquisition of significance.
As rival clubs are kicking on – Liverpool and Arsenal have done good business while Chelsea also have a spring in their step – the Red Devils have done little, either on the field or off it, to instil confidence or enthusiasm in their fanbase.
Still it’s not all doom and gloom. OK, so the 4-1 thrashing to Liverpool was excruciating to watch. But pre-season isn’t the be all and end all. It’s a gauge rather than a guarantee of what’s to come.
With that said, we thought we’d take a look back at United’s previous visits to the US in the last 16 years.
The club has toured the States on numerous occasions since first going across the pond in the 1950s. However, there was a two-decade hiatus before United returned in 2003.
Here is how United have fared in their previous seven summer visits to the States since then and how they did in the ensuing campaigns.
2003/04
Pre-season results
Celtic (W 4-0), Club America (W 3-1), Juventus (W 4-1), Barcelona (W 3-1), Sporting CP (L 3-1), Stoke City (L 3-1)
Premier League 3rd
FA Cup Winners
League Cup Fourth round
Champions League Last 16
United secured a record 11th FA Cup with a 3-0 win over Millwall, but surrendered the Premier League title to unbeaten champions Arsenal.
Their Champions League dreams ended in the last 16, with their European exit coming at the hands of current manager Mourinho’s eventual champions Porto.
2004/05
Pre-season results
Cobh Ramblers (W 2-1), Bayern Munich (L on pens 4-2), Celtic (L 2-1), AC Milan (L on pens 9-8), PSV Eindhoven (W 1-0), Burnley (W 3-1)
Premier League 3rd
FA Cup Runners-up
League Cup Semi-finals
Champions League Last 16
United finished empty-handed in terms of silverware – only their fourth trophy-less season in the last 17. United’s last chance of success was blown by a Paul Scholes penalty miss against Arsenal in an FA Cup final shootout.
United gained some sense of revenge as they ended Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ record-breaking 49-game unbeaten league run, while newly signed striker Wayne Rooney, 19, was voted PFA Young Player of the Year.
2010/11
Pre-season results
Celtic (W 3-1), Philadelphia Union (W 1-0), Kansas City Wizards (L 2-1), MLS All-Stars (W 5-2), Guadalajara (L 3-2), Airtricity League XI (W 7-1), Juventus (L 2-1)
Premier League Champions
FA Cup Semi-finals
League Cup Quarter-finals
Champions League Runners-up
On December 19, 2010, Sir Alex Ferguson became the longest-serving manager in United’s history, overtaking Sir Matt Busby’s record of 24 years, one month and 13 days in charge.
Exceptional form at Old Trafford was key to United’s title victory. A 1-1 draw away at Blackburn saw them break the English league record by winning their 19th top flight title, surpassing rivals Liverpool’s 18.
They lost the Champions League final, however, 3-1 to Barcelona.
2011/12
Pre-season results
New England Revolution (W 4-1), Seattle Sounders (W 7-0), Chicago Fire (W 3-1), MLS All-Stars (W 4-0), Barcelona (W 2-1), New York Cosmos (W 6-0), Irish League XI (W 4-1)
Premier League 2nd
FA Cup Fourth round
League Cup Quarter-finals
Champions League Group stage exit (Europa League last 16)
United failed to emerge from their Champions League group, meaning they dropped down into the Europa League for the first time since the 1995/96 season. They were dumped out by Athletic Bilbao in the last 16.
In January, Ryan Giggs broke Sir Bobby Charlton’s record for the most club starts (757).
A painful final day in the Premier League saw hope of a 20th title go up in smoke following Manchester City’s thrilling late 3-2 victory at the Etihad over QPR. It was the first time in 23 years that the champions and runners-up had finished level on points.
2014/15
Pre-season results
LA Galaxy (W 7-0), Roma (W 3-2), Inter Milan (W on pens 5-3), Real Madrid (W 3-1), Liverpool (W 3-1), Valencia (W 2-1)
Premier League 4th
FA Cup Fifth round
League Cup Second round
Champions League Did not qualify
This was the first season since 1989/90 that United did not compete in any European competition, following a dismal seventh-place finish in the forgetful David Moyes experiment the year after Sir Alex retired.
Louis van Gaal replaced the sacked Moyes and just about returned the club to Europe as they finished fourth in the league.
2015/16
Pre-season results
Club America (W 1-0), San Jose Earthquakes (W 3-1), Barcelona (W 3-1), Paris Saint-Germain (L 2-0)
Premier League 5th
FA Cup Winners
League Cup Last 16
Champions League Group stage exit (Europa League last 16)
United’s foray back into Europe didn’t go well as they failed to get beyond the Champions League group stages, while they lost to rivals Liverpool in the Europa League’s round of 16.
They failed to secure a top four Premier League finish but redemption was reached with a thrilling extra-time FA Cup final win over Crystal Palace – a stunning Jesse Lingard goal winning the cup, although Van Gaal was sacked hours later.
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2017/18
Pre-season results
LA Galaxy (W 5-2), Real Salt Lake (W 2-1), Manchester City (W 2-0), Real Madrid (D 1-1), Barcelona (L 1-0), Valerenga (W 3-0), Sampdoria (W 2-1)
Premier League 2nd
FA Cup Runners-up
League Cup Quarter-finals
Champions League Last 16
United achieved their highest points total and league placing since the retirement of Ferguson in 2013, finishing second. The club failed to secure silverware though, losing in the FA Cup final to Chelsea.
United suffered disappointing exits in both the League Cup and Champions League, while Mourinho was criticised for his negative playing style.
