Staying in control after going ahead has been a problem for Manchester United this year.
A look at how much time every Premier League team spends winning, drawing, or losing their games shows United are going ahead often, but can’t always hold on.
The Numbers
So far in the 2025-26 season, United have scored the first goal in 11 of their 16 league matches. They have spent 40% of their total match minutes in a winning position. That’s the third-highest share in the league, behind only Arsenal (42%) and Manchester City (55%).
The table shows that while United spend a good amount of time winning, they also spend a significant 26% of minutes losing a much higher percentage than the top two teams.
The Problem
The issue isn’t getting the lead; it’s keeping it. According to Athletic, United have frequently “lost control and conceded afterwards” after going ahead. Their performances while winning have “lacked the control necessary to maintain the scoreline.”
In simple terms, they score first but then struggle to manage the game and shut down their opponents, often letting them back into the match.
The Big Picture
The data highlights a clear difference between the league’s most consistent teams and the rest. Manchester City and Arsenal not only spend the most time winning but also the least time losing (12% and 13% respectively).
For United, fixing their game management after scoring could be the key to turning promising positions into more wins and climbing the table.