THE VITALS:

Team: Manchester United

Brand: Adidas

Era: 2020-21 (Used for the 2020-21 Premier League season and the 2021 UEFA Europa League Final)

Name/Number: B. Fernandes #18

CONDITION: VERY GOOD

This shirt is in very good condition and is only not considered excellent due to the cracking to the sleeve sponsor and parts of the name and number print. The shirt material and embroidered applications however are almost flawless however.

DIMENSIONS:

Size: 15-16 Yrs

Pit to Pit Measurement: 19.0 inches

Shirt Length: 27.0 inches 

Made by Adidas in their ‘AeroReady’ range of shirts which they released in 2020 – although an XL Boys shirt, the dimensions of this shirt suggest that it could easily double up as an adult size small shirt.

DESCRIPTION:

After the previous two Manchester United home shirts were supplemented by black accents, Adidas dropped the colour entirely for the 2020-21 season home shirt as white returned as the secondary colour – used against a hitherto unseen red rippled backdrop that featured crimson and yellow streaks. The shield which was used to house the club crest in the 2019-20 home shirt was removed and the crest was restored to its original colours and a deep red hoop collar was also utilised meanwhile the Adidas 3-stripes continued to be used across the shoulders only. In many ways this is the ‘red version’ of the blue away shirt used in the 2016-17 season! The 2020-21 season would also be the last season where Chevrolet was used the main shirt sponsor.

On the pitch, this was arguably the club’s best season since Sir Alex Ferguson at the end of the 2012-13 season as United finished as runners-up in the Premier League and reached the quarter-final of the FA Cup, semi-final of the EFL Cup and the final of the UEFA Europa League where they were upset on penalties by Villarreal. This shirt would also be worn as United defeated both Manchester City and Tottenham away from home in the league, and also in the huge scoreline victories at home against – Newcastle United (4-1), Leeds United (6-2) and Southampton (9-0). There would also be the 3-2 win over Liverpool in the 4^th Round of the FA Cup, 5-0 win over RB Leipzig and 6-2 win over AS Roma!

THE SEASON:

The first half of the 2019-20 season mirrored the final quarter of the previous season with the litany of inconsistent results and failure to put a meaningful winning run together, however, Bruno Fernandes’ arrival in January 2020 signalled an immense turn around in the club’s form as they went unbeaten in the league from 1^st February 2020 – winning 9 of their remaining 14 matches to pip Leicester City to 3^rd place! Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would also oversee runs to the semi-finals of the EFL Cup, FA Cup and Europa League!

With the 2019-20 season ending in August 2020 following the global Coronavirus Pandemic; the new campaign was not set to start until late September 2020 with Donny van de Beek signed from Ajax and later came the arrivals of Alex Telles, Facundo Pellestri and Paris Saint Germain’s then all-time leading goal scorer – Edinson Cavani who arrived on a free transfer! Odion Ighalo’s loan move was not made permanent, while Alexis Sanchez and Chris Smalling’s respective loan moves to Internazionale and AS Roma were made permanent and there were also loan moves in Serie A which were sealed for Diogo Dalot and Andreas Pereira.

United would get their 2020-21 Premier League season underway until 19^th September 2020 where they hosted Crystal Palace at Old Trafford. In a stunning turn of events, ‘the Red Devils’ unbeaten streak would be snapped after being beaten 3-1 by ‘the Eagles’. The opening six weeks of the season would be almost disastrous as the wins over Brighton and Newcastle United were overshadowed by the 6-2 defeat to Tottenham and the defeat at home to Arsenal on 1^st November 2020. The team would then embark on a thirteen match unbeaten streak beginning with the 3-1 win at home against Everton on 7^th November 2020. After defeating Sheffield United 3-2 on 17^th December 2020 – United moved into 2^nd place and just two points behind Liverpool and after the 1-0 win over Wolves on 29^th December 2020; Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side would go into 2021 level on points with the defending champions!

On 1^st January 2021 – expectations for the season reached fever pitch after Manchester United defeated Aston Villa to move to the summit of the league for the first time since September 2017! United’s failure to defeat an out of form Liverpool at Anfield on 17^th January 2021 and then a stunning defeat to Sheffield United was followed up by a draw at Old Trafford with Arsenal allowed Manchester City to take the initiative in the title race as they opened up a 6 point lead at the top of the table. After defeating Southampton 9-0 on 2^nd February 2021, results ground to a halt as draws unfolded against – Everton, West Brom, Chelsea and Crystal Palace. United would however defeat Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on 7^th March 2021, and would go on to win against West Ham United, Brighton, Tottenham and Burnley – however, they would still remain 8 points behind Man City. The last six games of the season with fans being welcomed back into stadiums for the final two outings would be somewhat disappointing as they won just two of those games. In the end however, Manchester United would finish in 2^nd place for just the second time since last winning the title in 2013.

After coming so close to reaching the finals of both domestic cups in 2019-20; United began their first quest to Wembley in the EFL Cup and were imperious as they kept clean sheets to defeat Luton Town, Brighton and Everton (this game also being one of the rare games in 2020 portion of the season to have been played in front of spectators) to set up a semi-final in January 2021 against the defending champions and their nemesis at the same stage last season - Manchester City. With just one leg being used for the semi-final due to congested fixture arrangements of the 2020-21 season; United would welcome City to Old Trafford, however, they would be beaten 2-0 on 6^th January 2021 to exit at the semi-final for the second season running.

Their FA Cup journey began just three days later when they defeated Watford 1-0 at home to set up a 4^th Round  showdown with Liverpool on 24^th January 2021. Manchester United would defeat Liverpool for the first time since March 2018 when they won a thrilling contest 3-2 at Old Trafford. In the 5^th Round, United defied West Ham United 1-0 after Extra Time, however, their cup run would end in the quarter-final when they were beaten by eventual winners – Leicester City on 21^st March 2021.

After their run to the semi-final of the Europa League in 2019-20; United were back in the Champions League, however, they would be drawn in a very dangerous Group H alongside Istanbul Basaksehir, last season’s semi-finalists – RB Leipzig, and the runners up in the 2020 Final – Paris Saint Germain. United would begin the group on fire by first beating PSG at home on Match-Day 1 and the putting five goals past Leipzig in their next outing. United would avenge their Match-Day 3 defeat to Istanbul Basaksehir, however, defeats to PSG and RB Leipzig in the return fixtures meant that United would be relegated to the Europa League when European tournament football resumed in February 2021.

United’s opponents in the Round of 32 were Real Sociedad, and in the 1^st Leg which had to be played in Turin; United won 4-0 to all but seal their place in the Last 16 where they would be drawn against AC Milan! A tense tie was decided by Paul Pogba’s winning goal in the 2^nd Leg in Milan as United won 2-1 on aggregate to reach the quarter-finals.

La Liga’s Granada stood between a third consecutive appearance in the semi-final of the Europa League and United would win both legs 2-0 to set up a semi-final appearance against AS Roma. A thrilling tie saw United win the 1^st Leg 6-2 at home on 29^th April 2021 before losing the 2^nd Leg 3-2 to win the tie 8-5 on aggregate and take their place in the 26^th May Final against Villarreal in Gdansk.

After a 1-1 draw played out over 120 minutes, penalties would be required to determine the winner of the 2020-21 Europa League and after all ten outfield players from both teams converted their spot-kicks; David De Gea’s effort would be saved and then with Villarreal’s goalkeeper – Geronimo Rulli converting his effort; Villarreal would be crowned champions.

The notable players that season were:

Edinson Cavani, Amad Diallo, Mason Greenwood, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard, Bruno Fernandes, Anthony Elanga, Daniel James, Juan Mata, Donny van de Beek, Fred, Scott McTominay, Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Luke Shaw, Phil Jones, Eric Bailly, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, David de Gea