The success enjoyed under the legendary manager Alex Ferguson seems a distant memory for a global fan base that has seen their once-great club teeter from one poor decision to another.
A FA Cup win in 2016 under Louis van Gaal and Europa League glory under José Mourinho in 2017 were two of the highlights in what has been an uninspiring period since Ferguson retired in 2013 – and a long way short of the 38 trophies won by Scot during his 26-year spell at the club.
The future did not look much brighter in January. The club, now managed by former player Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, sat in fifth place in the league table until the New Year.
The football was poor, the atmosphere was toxic and star player Paul Pogba, once seen as the saviour, looked set to leave as soon as he could.
But seven months on, there are now signs of a new lease of life under Solskjaer, particularly since the arrival of Bruno Fernandes.
The Portuguese playmaker arrived at Old Trafford from Sporting Lisbon in January and was thrown into a team lacking creativity, quality and leadership.
Fortunately for his new employers, it seems Fernandes has all three of those attributes in abundance.
Since his debut at the start of the year, United have not lost a league game, climbing the table to finish third and qualifying for the Champions League next season for the first time since the 2018-19 season. It was a remarkable feat, considering the club started the campaign by making their worst league start in 33 years.
In addition, Fernandes has brought excitement back to the red half of Manchester after years of uninspiring and often dreadful performances.
His eight league goals and seven assists demonstrate the type of player United now have on their hands.
“He [Fernandes] told me about the league, how intense it is to play in that league,” said Porto midfielder Danilo Pereira to CNN Sport.
“It’s no surprise to me to see the impact he’s had in Manchester. I think United can get back to their golden years with him, Pogba and other players.”
‘A very, very good signing’
If there is such a thing as a typical Manchester United player, Fernandes would certainly be one.
A risk-taker, exciting to watch and able to cope with the extreme pressures of playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world, the attacking midfielder has become an instant hit.
He has been a leader from day one; stepping up to take (and scoring) six penalties during his short spell at the club – including the decisive penalty against Leicester City, which helped United reach the Champions League next season.
Former players and pundits have heaped praise on his performances since he moved to England, where he has won the Man of the Match award in almost every game he has played.
“You can see he has talent and he’s not afraid. He wants the ball, which I would expect from a very good player,” said Cesc Fabregas, former Premier League star and current Monaco player, to CNN Sport.
“But what I like is that he’s smart in terms of his movement around the pitch. He knows when to get in between the lines. He knows when to get into space when he sees someone is available to make a pass. He gets into the second line fantastically.
“He supports the midfield when they’re building up and struggling a bit, and when teams are putting a lot of pressure on them.
“He can play long, short and short passes. He has the personality to take free-kicks and penalties. He’s not afraid. He doesn’t hide. I think Manchester United made a very good choice. A very good signing.”
Instant impact
Adapting to the Premier League is no easy task. Players generally take time to get used to the physicality and fast-paced nature of the league, but it was not a stumbling block for Fernandes.
While his performances in Portugal gave an indication of what was to come, such an instant impact took many by surprise.
“You looked at the Sporting Lisbon player and clearly he was someone who scored a lot of goals and someone who created a lot of goals, but there’s always a challenge to see if they can translate that to a better league and a new club,” said British journalist Richard Jolly to CNN Sport, adding that he doesn’t see a realistic way for United to finish in the top four without Fernandes.
“But he’s been a transformative player and a revelation in terms of how quickly he’s done it, I mean