Sir Alex Ferguson’s son highlights Manchester United’s huge failure after FIFA rule change

Darren Ferguson revived ‘Fergie Time’ last season after FIFA changed their added time rules – but Manchester United did not take advantage of the changes.

Ferguson’s Peterborough United scored the most goals in added time in the top four tiers of English football last season. This record represents a remarkable turnaround from the previous campaign, when the team only scored once after the 90th minute.

The 1,500% increase in goals from added time is by far the biggest in England and across Europe, according to the data Statistics checker. Their figures also show United scored the same number of late goals (six) as last season after the changes. Only Crystal Palace (five) and Everton (four) have managed fewer goals in added time than Erik ten Hag’s side.

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In comparison, Arsenal and Liverpool scored more than double (both 15) what United managed, the Merseyside club increasing their total by 200%. Chelsea, Manchester City, Newcastle United (all 11) and Tottenham Hotspur (ten) also hit double figures for late goals.

A number of those have also come against United, including two from Cole Palmer at Stamford Bridge and another from Gabriel Jesus away at Arsenal. Brentford’s Kristoffer Ajer and Fulham’s Alex Iwobi also scored in added time to cost United points this season.

But with Kobbie Mainoo and Scott McTominay coming up with late winners against Wolverhampton Wanderers and in the reverse against Brentford, they canceled each other out. United have neither lost nor gained more points from added-time goals all season.

However, the failure to gain an advantage in this area is one of the reasons why Chelsea overtook United at the end of last season. The west London club earned four points in added time, which was bettered only by Liverpool’s six.

Without those precious points, they would be 8th and below United at the final table. Had we finished 7th, United would have secured European football for next season, regardless of winning the FA Cup final.