It was the first season at the club for new signings Gordon Strachan, Jesper Olsen and Alan Brazil, while Mark Hughes became established in the forward line alongside Frank Stapleton, with Norman Whiteside moving into central midfield to replace the departed Ray Wilkins.

Hughes ended the season as United's top scorer with 24 goals (16 in the league) and was also voted PFA Young Player of the Year.

Brazil, however, failed to establish himself as a regular player, with Atkinson alternating between him and Frank Stapleton as the club's second striker to play alongside the prolific Hughes.

United began the season with four successive draws, having led in three of them, and remained unbeaten in their opening 11 matches (eight in the league) before going down 3–0 at Aston Villa.

The UEFA Cup campaign took United to the quarter-final but defeat on penalties against Videoton of Hungary would prove to be their final European fixture for five years.