Why Manchester United’s New Era Under Ratcliffe Feels More Like a Meltdown | OneFootball

Manchester United in Crisis and Transition: Amorim, Injuries, and the Ratcliffe Revolution

Under Pressure at Carrington

Manchester United’s 2024-25 season, as reported by The Athletic, has been nothing short of a soap opera, riddled with injuries, tactical conflicts, backroom reshuffles, and boardroom brinkmanship. At the centre of it all is Ruben Amorim, a manager plucked from Sporting CP with a clear philosophy and the emotional resonance of a club rebuilder. Yet, what he inherited was a fractured Manchester United, a squad worn thin by injuries, change fatigue, and the scars of a decade post-Sir Alex Ferguson.

The picture painted by The Athletic is bleak but compelling. When Sir Jim Ratcliffe visited Carrington in February, he could hardly have predicted the domino effect that was about to unfold. Within days, Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte, and Toby Collyer were all ruled out due to training injuries, while Amad Diallo followed shortly after. The timing was brutal, and whispers of internal discontent began to bubble up.

Photo IMAGO

As Amorim watched his plans unravel, Ratcliffe remained an omnipresent figure, scrutinising every operation from physiotherapy sessions to masseuse routines. His meticulous approach extended beyond football, challenging Carrington staff on processes and insisting on detailed reports on seemingly minor roles. The desire to rebuild United was clear, but so too was the chaos it created in transition.

Manager on the Brink

Amorim’s public admissions that the sack might be “liberating” only intensified speculation. At a club like Manchester United, those words are seismic. When asked to address the players after the 3-1 defeat to Brighton, he did so with such ferocity that it ended with tears and a shattered tactics screen, punctuated by energy drinks flying across the dressing room.

There were moments when the strain on Amorim seemed too much. His emotionally charged speeches, silent treatments, and erratic selection choices spoke volumes. At one stage, following the Europa League final loss to Tottenham, Amorim addressed his uncertain future again: “I am always open if the board and the fans feel I am not the right guy; I will go in the next day without any conversation about compensation.”

Despite this, the club’s hierarchy reassured him. Chief executive Omar Berrada and technical director Jason Wilcox gave their backing, solidifying communication channels and stabilising the manager’s position. Ratcliffe himself voiced his admiration: “I really, really like Ruben. He’s a very thoughtful guy. Every time I go to the training ground, I speak to Ruben. I sit down and have a cup of coffee with him and tell him where it’s going wrong, and he tells me to f*** off. I like him.”

Structural Upheaval and Executive Tug-of-War

This season was not only defined by injuries and inconsistency but also by relentless boardroom drama. Dan Ashworth’s unceremonious exit, reportedly after clashing with Ratcliffe, was just one thread in a complex narrative. Wilcox and Berrada emerged with more authority, taking control of transfer policy and offering Amorim a defined structure to operate within.

Photo: IMAGO

The fall of Ashworth, the reassignment of Collette Roche from stadium affairs to football operations, and the appointment of figures like Gary Hemingway and Michael Sansoni from outside football indicate Ratcliffe’s readiness to borrow from INEOS and even Formula 1 to reshape the club. It is a high-risk, high-reward strategy that has left the footballing world watching with intrigue and scepticism.

Notably, Ratcliffe’s cost-cutting has not gone unnoticed. The treatment of physios and masseurs, many let go days after serving the club in the Europa League final, cast a shadow over the much-publicised ambition to return Manchester United to the pinnacle of English football.

Tactical Tensions and Player Discontent

Amorim’s preference for a 3-4-2-1 system has not landed smoothly. Traditionalists within the club view it as reactive rather than aligned with United’s attacking legacy. Young talents like Alejandro Garnacho have been asked to adapt roles, and frustrations have emerged. Garnacho was even told to find a new club following post-final irritation about his reduced role.

Similarly, Marcus Rashford’s disciplinary drop and subsequent loan to Aston Villa reinforced Amorim’s ruthlessness. While some lauded his firm standards, others felt the manager lacked empathy. Yet, stories like Casemiro’s resurgence after clear communication with Amorim highlight the human touch the Portuguese manager can deliver when supported properly.

Transfers like Manuel Ugarte, struggling to keep pace with the Premier League, and the fitness woes of Amad, Lisandro Martinez, and Luke Shaw suggest recruitment and conditioning still need refinement. In parallel, Garnacho’s emergence and Casemiro’s late flourish give reason for cautious optimism.

Unfinished Business and Hope Ahead

This Manchester United remains a work in progress, caught between old ideals and new methodologies. Ratcliffe wants a club that functions with the precision of an INEOS plant but finds himself running an institution rooted in tradition, sentiment, and fandom. Amorim is not perfect, nor has he solved every tactical conundrum, but he represents something bold and forward-thinking.

He speaks with honesty, sometimes painfully so, and his staff follow him with faith. Wilcox and Berrada have his back, and if United are to rise again, that spine of trust must hold. It is a project fraught with risk, but also layered with potential.

Player turnover, tactical confusion, and structural reform are seldom comfortable. But discomfort may be the price of genuine transformation. For Manchester United, 2024-25 may be remembered not as the end of the fall but the painful birth of something authentic.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

There is no way to sugar-coat it. Finishing 15th in the Premier League is an outright embarrassment for a club of Manchester United’s stature. Ruben Amorim talks a good game, and there are clear signs that he’s trying to build something meaningful, but the club feels more broken than rebuilt.

The honesty is refreshing. His raw emotion after the Brighton game, the call-out to Garnacho, and the message to fans post-season suggest he cares deeply. But words only go so far. The fact that Ratcliffe, Berrada, and Wilcox are reshuffling every deck chair, including medical and analytics departments, shows a lack of stability.

Amorim deserves more time, but we need clarity, consistency, and results. The fans can endure another tough season if there is a clear vision being implemented. But watching legends walk out, kids crumble under pressure, and the same injuries pile up again and again tests our faith.

Next season must be different. It must be planned better. A structured pre-season, fit players, and coherent tactics are the bare minimum. Otherwise, patience, even for a thoughtful man like Ruben, will run dry.