Manchester United's FA Cup hopes this season ended abruptly with a 2-1 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford in the third round. The defeat compounds an already disastrous campaign, leaving the Red Devils mired in one of the bleakest periods in modern club history. Brighton dictated the early tempo, exposing United's vulnerabilities under caretaker boss Darren Fletcher, who stepped in following Ruben Amorim's recent sacking.

Brighton struck first in the 12th minute when Brajan Gruda capitalized on a rebound after Lisandro Martínez had cleared a Georginio Rutter header off the line. United’s defensive frailties were further highlighted in the second half as former Red Devil Danny Welbeck doubled Brighton's advantage, notably choosing not to celebrate against his boyhood club. Benjamin Sesko pulled one back late for United, but the team’s lack of cohesion persisted. The afternoon ended sourly for the hosts as teenager Shea Lacey received a second yellow card in the 89th minute, resulting in his dismissal.

This FA Cup exit, coming after an earlier Carabao Cup elimination at the hands of League Two side Grimsby Town on penalties, marks a historic low for Manchester United. Opta statistics reveal this is the first time since the 1981–82 season that the club has been knocked out of both domestic cup competitions at their initial entry point. With no European football this season and a seventh-place standing in the Premier League, the Red Devils now have only the league to salvage.

The severity of United’s decline is underscored by fixture projections: the team is set to play just 40 matches across all competitions, the fewest since the 1914–15 season—111 years ago—excluding periods disrupted by war. Early cup exits have stripped the club of the grueling schedules that historically tested its depth and resilience. Legends Sir Alex Ferguson, Paul Scholes, and Nicky Butt were present in the stands to witness the defeat, a stark reminder of United’s glorious past.

Instability at the managerial level continues to plague the club. Fletcher’s caretaker tenure has seen limited improvement, following a 2-2 draw against Burnley before the decisive Brighton loss. Attention now turns to the upcoming Manchester derby at Old Trafford, with uncertainty looming over the dugout. Reports suggest that former managers Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick are being considered as temporary solutions ahead of a permanent appointment in the summer.