Recently, "Manchester United" seems to be building a team truly capable of competing for the highest awards. However, the recent seasons have been disappointing, and the main reason for this is the departure of long-time "Red Devils" strategist Sir Alex Ferguson.
2013 was the last year when "United" triumphed in the Premier League. 2013 was also the last year when Sir Alex was at the helm. The Ferguson era, which lasted from 1986, ended on May 19.
In the 2012-2013 season, the "Red Devils" triumphed in England by collecting 89 points - 11 more than their main rival "Manchester City". Today, the rejuvenated team still lags behind "City" in the tournament table, so it is interesting to look at which players helped "United" become the strongest in the country.
Goalkeeper - David De Gea. The Spanish goalkeeper, who played his second season with the "Red Devils," was trusted by Ferguson and defended the team's goal in 28 Premier League matches. Today, the player has become one of the best goalkeepers in the world, highly desired by Real Madrid. He became the best player in his position in the English championship not only in 2013 but also in the last two seasons.
Right-back - Rafael. The Brazilian, who was an important part of the team in the triumphant season, scored three goals. However, he began to receive less playing time, and under Louis van Gaal's leadership in the summer of 2015, Rafael moved to Lyon. In his first years in France, the Brazilian was plagued by injuries, but in the following season, he became a regular starter.
Center-back - Rio Ferdinand. The end of the triumphant season in the Premier League marked the end of the important role of this veteran in the "Red Devils" team. The following season, Ferdinand played only 14 matches in the national championships and later moved to Queens Park Rangers in London to finish his career. During his time there, the Englishman ran onto the field 11 times.
Center-back - Jonny Evans. The representative of Northern Ireland wore the "Manchester United" shirt in the Premier League since 2008, but four years later, he became an important part of the team and played 23 matches in the English championship. In the following two seasons, the defender was hindered by injuries, and in the summer of 2015, he decided to move to West Bromwich, where he is now one of the most important players in Tony Pulis's team.
Left-back - Patrice Evra. The Frenchman was another long-time member of the "Red Devils" team, whose triumph in 2013 crowned a great career with the team. Evra's role was important even after Ferguson was replaced by David Moyes, but in 2014, the veteran decided to take on a new challenge and move to Juventus in Turin. In his first season with the "Bianconeri," Evra reached the UEFA Champions League final, and after another successful period, he will likely finish his career at a weaker English club.
Defensive midfielder - Michael Carrick. At the age of 31, the Englishman, who had the second most matches played in the club, played an important role in the coming years, but injuries began to bother him more and more. Carrick managed to return to form last season, but he did not receive as much playing time as he did in the 2012-2013 season. This season, the 35-year-old veteran started sitting on the bench, but Jose Mourinho eventually began to trust him, and he played 10 matches in the Premier League.
Left winger - Ashley Young. The former leader of Aston Villa contributed five assists in 19 matches to the triumph of "Red Devils" in England. Although he played little, Young mostly occupied this position. When he was plagued by injuries, Nani or Danny Welbeck played instead. After Ferguson's departure, Young had less and less playing time for various reasons, and this season he appeared in the Premier League only four times.
Attacking midfielder - Tom Cleverley. In his best season, this player often formed a midfield duo with Michael Carrick, but played slightly more forward. This contributed to Cleverley scoring two goals and providing three assists in 22 matches. However, under David Moyes' leadership, he only managed to score once, and later he was sold to Everton. Although in the 2015-2016 season he played in the starting lineup for the "Toffees," their new manager, Ronald Koeman, decided to send Cleverley to Watford in the winter.
Right winger - Antonio Valencia. In the role assigned by Ferguson, the Ecuadorian was an important figure in "Man United" attacks, as he made a lot of accurate passes. Sometimes Moyes would also move Valencia to the right-back position, but he fully adapted to it under van Gaal. Valencia missed most of the last season due to injury, but is still the main team defender.
Forward - Wayne Rooney. The veteran of the "Red Devils" did not play in attack, but the 2012-2013 season was excellent for him, as he contributed to 22 team goals in the Premier League. The following year, his statistics were even better, and in 2014, Rooney became the captain of "Man United." However, his numbers began to deteriorate, and coaches began to experiment with him, sometimes pulling him back into the depths of the field. The 31-year-old player does not yet have a solid place in Mourinho's starting lineup.
Forward - Robin van Persie. The former Arsenal captain did not stop and appeared in all English league matches. He scored 26 goals and made 15 assists. However, this was the last phenomenal season for van Persie, as injuries returned the following year, and he could not maintain such sporting form. After ending the 2014-2015 season with only 10 accurate shots, the Dutchman moved to Fenerbahce in Istanbul.
Other important team members:
Nemanja Vidic - the captain of the "Red Devils," who constantly struggled with injuries, played one more season and then went to Inter Milan to finish his career.
Phil Jones - a young center-back who received trust from other coaches but did not become a key part of the team due to constant injuries. This year, he again missed the first 10 matches of the season, but later played full 90 minutes in 10 out of 11. "United" did not lose a single one.
Ryan Giggs - a forty-year-old veteran who in 2013-2014 still ran onto the field after substitutions but eventually decided to hang up his boots. At the end of that season, he temporarily worked in place of the dismissed Moyes.
Anderson - the successful career of this footballer ended with Ferguson's departure. The following winter, he moved to Fiorentina in Florence, and later returned to his native Brazil.
Shinji Kagawa - despite triumphing in the Premier League upon arrival, the Japanese player's experience in Manchester was not the best, and in the summer of 2014, he returned to Borussia Dortmund, where he is an important player.
Danny Welbeck - the aforementioned forward in the triumphant season replaced his teammates in multiple positions, and the following year showed even better statistics. However, in 2014, Welbeck moved to Arsenal in London, where he often battles not with opponents but with injuries.
Javier Hernandez - Chicharito had earned the label of a "super substitute," but after Ferguson left, his numbers declined. Both due to his role as a substitute and his own performance, he was later loaned to Real Madrid, and eventually joined Bayer Leverkusen.
