Manchester United faced Luton Town in the Premier League last season, but the Hatters are already preparing for League One life.
This season has not exactly gone to plan for Manchester United.
Ruben Amorim could win the Europa League, but United will finish the Premier League season in the bottom half of the Premier League table.
Spare a thought for Luton Town fans, though, as they come to terms with back-to-back relegations.
Luton fans were on cloud nine in 2023, securing promotion to the Premier League via the Championship play-offs.
The Hatters couldn’t stay up last season but have now suffered the pain of successive relegations.
Photo by Stuart Leggett | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesTeden Mengi and Tahith Chong suffer back-to-back relegations
Luton were tipped to be strong contenders for immediate promotion back to the Premier League.
Many of the players who featured in the Premier League last season stayed put at Kenilworth Road as Rob Edwards looked to bounce straight back.
Instead, Luton won just six of their first 34 games of the Championship under Edwards and then his replacement, Matt Bloomfield.
Bloomfield found some form before the end of the season, but Luton’s 5-3 defeat to West Bromwich Albion confirmed a second straight relegation.
That means two former United talents – Teden Mengi and Tahith Chong – will head down to League One having been fighting for Premier League survival just over a year ago.
United sold Meng to Luton in 2023, allowing the defender to have a rest start away from Old Trafford amid repeated injuries.
Chong left United for Birmingham City in 2022, having impressed on loan with the Blues.
The Dutchman was tabbed as a wonderkid upon joining United from Feyenoord as a teenager, but he never really made the grade at Old Trafford.
Chong attracted interest last summer but managed just two goals and one assist in Luton’s torrid Championship campaign.
United will take keen interest in Teden Mengi future
Luton’s relegation means some players will attract major interest in the summer transfer market.
Mengi may be among them, despite a frustrating season for the Hatters.
Torino wanted to sign Mengi last summer, even going as far as agreeing personal terms on a deal, but the move fell through.
Bayer Leverkusen wanted Mengi last season, so there have been admiring glances in his direction.
United have a ‘significant’ sell-on clause on Mengi, and will keep an eye on any potential sale – even if his market value has decreased upon relegation.