Manchester United legend Andrew Cole has weighed in on the club’s challenging start to the 2025-26 season, describing it as “crazy” and emphasizing the importance of hitting the ground running.
The Red Devils will begin their campaign at home against Arsenal, facing what Opta’s power rankings deem to be the toughest start to the season. This marks only the second time in English league history that United will host Arsenal in their season opener, with the previous encounter resulting in a 4-1 victory for the Red Devils back in 1989-90.
Following their clash with the Gunners, United will take on Fulham and Burnley, before facing Manchester City and Chelsea in their first five matches. The team has a strong record of winning their opening game of the season, boasting 22 victories, and holds the best win rate on Matchday 1 among teams that have played in multiple seasons, standing at 67%.
This upcoming season will also mark United’s ninth consecutive campaign starting with a home game, adding to the anticipation surrounding their opening fixtures.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Cole expressed his thoughts on the challenging start, acknowledging the need for positive results to build confidence and momentum for the team under manager Ruben Amorim. Amorim, who oversaw United’s lowest-ever Premier League finish of 15th last season, will be looking to improve on his record and lead the team to success in the upcoming campaign.
Despite the tough season they endured previously, Cole remains optimistic about United’s prospects, highlighting the importance of starting strong and building on early successes to set the tone for the rest of the season. As the Red Devils prepare for what promises to be an exciting and challenging start to the season, all eyes will be on how they navigate through their opening fixtures and set the pace for a successful campaign ahead.
