Manchester United in Crisis: Who Is Really to Blame—The Glazers, INEOS, or Amorim?
By:Babatunde Ajibade (Manchester United correspondent)
Facebook: Babatunde Olatunji Ajibade Twitter: ollyzjinx01 Instagram: sir_ajirowo01
After back-to-back Premier League defeats, Manchester United looks more lost than ever this season. Once a club synonymous with dominance, they are now a shadow of their former selves, plummeting down the table with no clear direction.
So, the big question remains: Who is responsible for this downfall?
🔴 Is it the Glazers? Their decades of mismanagement, debt-driven ownership, and refusal to reinvest have drained the club’s resources, leading to outdated facilities and a squad that lacks world-class depth.
⚫ Does the blame fall on INEOS? Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s group took over sporting control with bold promises but has since delivered indecision, poor recruitment, and cost-cutting measures that have further destabilized the club.
⚪ Or is Rúben Amorim the problem? His rigid tactics, lack of adaptation, and failure to rally the squad have seen United spiral from a top-four contender to 15th place in just 14 games.
🔥 In this article, we’ll break down the key factors behind United’s shocking decline. Who deserves the blame? Let us know in the comments!
The Glazers: Years of Neglect and Financial Drain
The Glazers’ ownership has been nothing short of a financial stranglehold. Since their controversial leveraged buyout, United has been drowning in debt. Instead of investing in the club’s future, the Glazers prioritized their own financial gain—saddling the club with massive loans while raking in dividends. The result? Interest payments exceeding £60 million per year, funds that could have been used to strengthen the squad, upgrade facilities, or modernize the decaying Old Trafford.
And the neglect goes beyond numbers. Old Trafford, once a fortress, now suffers from leaky roofs and rodent infestations—an embarrassment for a club of this stature. Worse still, the failure to invest in a long-term sporting vision post-Sir Alex Ferguson has seen the club descend into mediocrity, constantly lagging behind its rivals in recruitment, infrastructure, and strategic planning.
When the Glazers finally announced their willingness to sell in November 2022, fans saw a glimmer of hope. That hope seemed to solidify when Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS acquired 25% of the club, promising a fresh start. But instead of clarity and progress, the transition has been riddled with missteps and confusion.
INEOS: A Leadership in Disarray
Ratcliffe’s INEOS took control of United’s sporting operations with a bold promise: transformation. Instead, their tenure so far has been marked by chaos. From prolonged negotiations with Dan Ashworth, only to part ways after a managerial disagreement, to their indecision in appointing a manager, INEOS has failed to show decisive leadership.
Despite United’s glaring squad deficiencies, their transfer strategy has been baffling. With both first-choice left-backs injured, no reinforcements were signed, leaving the squad unbalanced and vulnerable. Meanwhile, a disastrous summer window left gaps all over the pitch—gaps that have been brutally exposed throughout the season.
Perhaps most concerning is INEOS’ aggressive cost-cutting measures. While they claim these decisions are necessary for financial stability, many fans fear the worst: is this about restoring Manchester United’s dominance, or merely about making the club a profitable asset for future ventures?
Rúben Amorim: The Wrong Man for the Job?
When Amorim took charge, United were within striking distance of a top-four finish. Fast forward 15 games, and they now sit 14 points adrift, languishing in 15th place. What happened?
Amorim’s tactical overhaul has been met with resistance—not from fans, but from a squad that seems incapable of executing his vision. Defensive lapses, lack of cohesion, and an overreliance on rigid tactics have only worsened United’s woes. While there is a clear pattern of play, the question remains: are these players simply not good enough, or is Amorim failing to adapt?
Calls for tactical flexibility have grown louder, urging Amorim to tweak his system to mask the squad’s deficiencies. Yet, he remains unwavering, even as the losses pile up and relegation fears creep in.
With 12 defeats in 26 league matches (W8 D6), this is United’s worst Premier League start since 1973-74—the season they were relegated. If something doesn’t change soon, could history be on the verge of repeating itself?
Who is to Blame?
This crisis is not the result of a single misstep—it is the culmination of years of mismanagement, poor decision-making, and instability at every level of the club.
The Glazers laid the foundation for this downfall with their reckless financial policies and failure to modernize the club. INEOS, despite assuming sporting control, has only deepened the uncertainty with indecision, questionable recruitment, and cost-cutting measures that hint at profit-driven motives rather than a true commitment to footballing success. And then there’s Amorim, whose tactical rigidity and inability to adapt have only accelerated the club’s decline.
So, who do you hold responsible? Is it the players, who have failed to rise to the occasion? Or is this season already a lost cause, one that fans must simply endure until the next rebuild begins?
Drop your thoughts in the comments below. The debate is open.