Manchester United dominated the first decade of the 21st century, only to lose their way after Sir Alex Ferguson retired - but who have been their best players of the new millennium?
The Red Devils dominated the first decade of the new millennium, only to lose their way - but who have been their best performers?
Manchester United began the 21st century on the beaches of Brazil. They were there to compete in the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup and arrived as the official best team in the world after beating Palmeiras in the Inter-Continental Cup. In order to participate, they took the seismic decision to withdraw from the FA Cup, the competition they were the holders of., which they won in May.
That says a lot about how United have fallen as the century has progressed. The Red Devils won eight out of the first 14 league titles of the new millennium, but ever since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, they have been on a downward curve. They have finished outside of the top four more times than they have made it in and won just five major trophies. In the first half of the new century, they lifted 13.
It should be no real surprise, then, that a list of the best United players from the first 25 years of the 21st century draws heavily on the Ferguson era. Only performances since January 2000 count, so the likes of Denis Irwin, Jaap Stam and Teddy Sheringham fall short, even though they straddled both centuries.
W. Rooney C. Ronaldo M. Rashford D. De Gea B. Fernandes J. Hernandez Premier League Opinion FEATURES
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