Reds Aiming For Cup First

After 10 unsuccessful attempts to retain the FA Cup, Manchester United will aim to keep the famous trophy in 2017.

The Reds return to the competition against Jaap Stam's Reading this weekend as holders, after the likes of Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney ended their long wait to win the Cup last May, courtesy of an extra-time success over Crystal Palace. This season therefore offers Jose Mourinho's men the chance to write a new chapter in the club's glorious history.

Lifting the silverware two years in succession is something that even eluded the great teams of Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson, although the Treble-winners were denied the chance to defend the FA Cup in 2000 when the Reds instead took part in the FIFA World Club Championship.

United have come very close to retaining the Cup on two occasions, in the finals of 1995 - when losing 1-0 to Paul Rideout's goal for Everton - and 2005 when Arsenal won a penalty shoot-out at the Millennium Stadium after a goalless 120 minutes in the showpiece occasion.

At the other end of the achievement scale, the Reds have twice fallen at the first hurdle as holders - in 1910 at Burnley's Turf Moor and, famously, some 74 years later at Bournemouth's Dean Court when Harry Redknapp's Cherries knocked out Ron Atkinson's men.

United are bidding to become only the fifth club to retain the trophy since the War after Newcastle United (1951, 1952), Tottenham (1961, 1962 & 1981, 1982), Arsenal (2002, 2003 & 2014, 2015) and Chelsea (2009, 2010).

UNITED'S FA CUP RECORD AS HOLDERS

1910: First round - 0-2 v Burnley (A)
1949: Semi-final replay - 0-1 v Wolves (N)
1964: Semi-final - 1-3 v West Ham (N)
1978: Fourth-round replay - 2-3 v West Brom (A)
1984: Third round - 0-2 v Bournemouth (A)
1986: Fifth-round replay - 0-2 v West Ham (H)
1991: Fifth round - 1-2 v Norwich (A)
1995: Final - 0-1 v Everton (N)
1997: Fourth-round replay - 0-1 v Wimbledon (A)
2000: Did not enter
2005: Final - 0-0 (4-5 on pens) v Arsenal (N)