Red Devil's Downfall: Is Old Trafford At Crisis?
Manchester United, a club known for its legacy, is currently traveling down a rough road. Apart from the severe financial issues the club faces, its on-field performance remains unsatisfactory. Manchester United’s current problems seem endless, as they are now left in the lower reaches of the Premier League table.
As per a Reuters report, the club has decided to cut around 150-200 more jobs as part of an overhaul to return to profitability after five years of losses. The club has been restructuring and cutting costs since British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe took a 25% stake last year and assumed charge of soccer operations to try to revive its fortunes on the pitch. Thus, the financial instability and the poor form of the club have created a turbulent atmosphere at Old Trafford.
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Various staff perks, such as subsidized travel to the FA Cup final, have been cut, while the traditional staff Christmas party was also canceled. Moreover, the club has increased match-day ticket prices to £66, with no reductions for seniors or children, and has raised parking charges for disabled fans. According to most football analysts, the key factor in United’s financial conundrum is player recruitment. Since the departures of Sir Alex Ferguson and David Gill in 2013, the club has spent a staggering £2.1 billion on players. Though this places United at the top in terms of spending, the quality of recruits remains questionable.
Meanwhile, the financial struggles of the club have caught the attention of rivals. With United facing major financial losses, teams are reportedly offering to buy out sell-on clauses in past transfer deals. Sell-on clauses ensure United receives a percentage of future transfer fees when a player they sold moves to another club. Mason Greenwood, now at Marseille, and Hannibal Mejbri, who joined Burnley, both have 50% sell-on clauses in their deals. The club may make use of these immediate payments to alleviate its current financial troubles.
Notably, United head coach Ruben Amorim has addressed the situation, admitting that the team’s poor performances have contributed to the club’s financial downturn. “We have to address all the problems in the club, but a big part of this is how we got here,” Amorim said. “The lack of success on the pitch has hurt the club. We are the engine that drives everything.”
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United has not won a match since January, and the fans remain hopeful that the fate will change when they face Ipswich Town tomorrow. Despite an initial boost, including a win against Manchester City and Marcus Rashford’s brief resurgence, the Red Devils have since struggled, losing six of their last nine matches. Adding to their challenges, Amad Diallo’s season-ending ankle injury and limited transfer backing have complicated matters.
Ahead of this crucial phase for the club, Ruben also faces uncertainty about his future after a difficult start to his tenure. Since replacing Erik Ten Hag in November, Ruben has managed 21 games, winning only six and losing eight of his 14 Premier League matches.
Though certain reports suggested that Amorim might resign to protect his reputation, citing tactical struggles, lack of transfer backing, and internal instability, sources close to the club have clarified that the Portuguese manager remains committed to the project and retains the board’s support.
