Manchester United’s current struggles highlight significant challenges both on and off the pitch under the ownership of Ineos, whose management approach is drawing increasing scrutiny. The club’s recent 3-2 defeat to Brighton in the Carabao Cup, squandering a 2-0 lead, marked another early exit from the competition and intensified fan frustration.
Since taking control, Ineos’s football leadership—led by director of football Jason Wilcox—has pursued a phased rebuilding strategy by addressing one position per transfer window. This approach, however, has raised questions about its effectiveness, with many critics arguing it hampers United’s ability to compete with the Premier League’s elite. The club has invested heavily in new players, particularly in midfield, including Carlos Baleba (£70 million), Andrey Santos (£50 million), and Youri Tielemans (£35 million). Yet, despite these additions, early performances suggest that United remains defensively vulnerable and tactically disjointed.
The defensive situation, in particular, remains a pressing concern. Unable to sign a new left back before the transfer window closed, Manchester United is left reliant on Luke Shaw, whose recent injury issues compound the squad’s problems. Young and raw options such as Patrick Dorgu, Ayden Heaven, and Leny Yoro have yet to establish themselves in top-flight football, while more experienced players like Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, and Diogo Dalot have mixed performances, contributing to persistent defensive instability. Star signing Matthijs de Ligt has not featured for more than nine months, further highlighting the club’s personnel difficulties at the back.
The attacking line has seen some rebuilding under former manager Ruben Amorim’s influence, with acquisitions like Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko. While these players represent an upgrade from previous options, none are widely regarded as among the Premier League’s best in their positions, and striker depth remains a concern with Sesko currently the only main striker on the books. Contract negotiations with captain Bruno Fernandes — the club’s standout performer — add further uncertainty, as a new deal would require significant financial resources, likely limiting spending elsewhere, particularly in defense.
On the managerial front, Michael Carrick, appointed permanently in April after serving as interim head coach from January, faces mounting pressure. Initially praised for steadying the ship with Champions League qualification and just two defeats in seventeen games, his team has since struggled, losing three of their last six matches, including the recent derby defeat to Manchester City and cup exit. Carrick’s response to defeat has remained measured, emphasizing resilience and process over panic, but the growing dissatisfaction among supporters was acoustically evident at Old Trafford.
Comparisons to Carrick’s predecessor, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, are inevitable given their similar trajectories from player to coach in the same club environment. While Carrick has sought to distance himself from those parallels, the early-season slump echoes the challenges Solskjaer faced after his permanent appointment in 2019.
The broader picture shows that issues at Manchester United extend beyond the first team. Other Ineos-backed football ventures, including Lausanne Sport in Switzerland and Nice in Ligue 1, are struggling near the bottom of their respective leagues. Meanwhile, Manchester United Women are also enduring a difficult start to their WSL campaign.
Former United captain Roy Keane recently criticized the club’s governance, citing a drop in standards across all levels and calling for introspection from those in charge. As the club navigates a critical phase, questions remain about whether Ineos’s incremental strategy can deliver tangible success or whether more radical change is necessary to restore Manchester United’s standing domestically and in Europe.
United will hope for a positive result against Fulham this weekend to halt the slide ahead of the international break, providing Carrick and the club an opportunity to regroup and address the mounting challenges.