Manchester United’s Premier League season came to an end on Tuesday and, despite overwhelming disappointment, several players had standout years.
Manchester United ended the 2015/16 Premier League season with a 3-1 victory over Bournemouth, securing a spot in the Europa League group stage.
United ended the campaign with a decent run, but it wasn’t enough after they fell to West Ham in the week prior. With the opportunity to move into the top four, Louis van Gaal’s team floundered and lost despite leading 2-1. After Sunday’s game was postponed and Manchester City drew versus Arsenal, it was all but mathematically confirmed that United would be out of the Champions League.
Though the team easily dispatched an uninterested Bournemouth team, there was one moment that was symbolic of the entire season. Chris Smalling turned a Cherries pass into the Red Devils’ net just before the end of the game. The goal wiped away the clean sheet and David de Gea’s bid at the Golden Glove. Much like the rest of the season, Manchester United crumbled right at the moment of most importance.
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The same thing happened in the final group stage match of the Champions League when United fell 2-1 to Wolfsburg, in the Europa League when they bowed out against Liverpool, and when they lost in PKs to Middlesbrough in the League Cup. It was a season of missed opportunities for the squad.
There were, however, numerous players that capitalized on their chances, particularly from the youth ranks. These players could go on to serve even more important roles in the next season, depending on who is the manager. With that in mind, here are the top five players from Manchester United’s 2015/16 Premier League season…
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