The Troubles At Manchester United

Manchester United currently sit 14th in the Premier League. Manchester United were once the dominant force in English football, during the tenure of Sir Alex Ferguson. Since Ferguson left in 2013 Man United have struggled, but nothing like the extent of their struggles this season. This season has been a massive struggle for Manchester United, with problems both on and off the pitch. The season began poorly which led to the sacking of Erik Ten Hag. He was replaced by Ruben Amorim, but the Portuguese manager is also struggling to spark any life into Manchester United season.

United were knocked out of the FA Cup last weekend, meaning their only hope for silverware this season is in the Europa League, with many quality teams in the competition in better form than United, Europa League glory seems unlikely. In this article, we will explore the team’s struggles in the current season, the issues that have plagued the club off the pitch, and what the future holds for Manchester United, particularly as the summer transfer window looms.

Troubles on the Pitch

Manchester United’s main struggle on the pitch under Erik Ten Hag was a clear lack of identity. Ruben Amorim has come in and changed the formation but the United players are struggling to adapt to his style of play, which is leading to poor results. United sit 14th in the league which is completely unheard of for a club of their size and history. In their 27 league games played this season, Manchester United have won just 9 times, which is only one third of their games. They have in fact lost more than they have won, losing 12 and drawing 6.

Man United just look like a below average Premier League team this season, with players looking disinterested. Players like Antony and Marcus Rashford really struggled this season and have now gone on loan to Real Betis and Aston Villa respectively, and look to have found their form back. Meanwhile the current United players are struggling to get any spark into the season. The FA Cup defeat to Fulham will be a real blow to Man United, as it was one of the last things they had to play for, and was a trophy that they realistically could have won with a lot of the so called big teams already eliminated.

Troubles Off the Pitch

At the heart of Manchester United’s problems is its staggering debt. The Glazer family, who purchased the club in 2005 through a leveraged buyout, left the club with significant debt that has persisted for nearly two decades. As of 2025, the club’s debt stands at €0.88 billion. This debt is compounded by the fact that a lot of the money generated by the club goes toward servicing this debt rather than reinvesting in the squad or infrastructure. Although United generates substantial revenue through commercial deals, sponsorships, and matchday income, a significant portion of that revenue is tied up in interest payments and repayment of the loan.

They have spent large amounts of money on transfers over the years, but the failures of these transfers on top of this debt puts United in a lot of trouble at this moment. Sir Jim Ratcliffe as the 28.94% owner of the club has introduced cost cutting measures which have included letting staff go and closing the staff canteen. They are currently punishing the hard working people of Manchester United, when the financial problems are because of the inherited debt and poor transfer choices, which certainly is not the staff in the canteens fault.

What Lies Ahead

This summer will likely be a difficult one for Manchester United. They will likely have to sell in order to buy, but with their struggles this season they will find it hard to shift certain players. For Manchester United to break free from its debt and navigate the constraints imposed by the PSR, several things need to happen. The club needs to find clarity regarding its ownership. If the Glazers remain in full control, they must either invest significantly in the club to reduce its debt or take steps to ensure financial sustainability.

Additionally, Manchester United must begin to operate more strategically within the constraints of the PSR. This could involve focusing more on youth development and maximizing the potential of players from the academy. Football can change very quickly, but it could take a lot to change United’s current fortunes.

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