‘When I think football, I think Manchester United. I still support United and always will. I will die with them in my heart.’ – Eric Cantona, a former Man U great
If you are a Manchester United fan, you will be able to understand my disappointment and disillusionment with the disastrous Premier League results of the club this season.
Why, I think I will also be able to accept the anger and rage of Man U diehards as they blasted the owners, coaches and players for substandard and outrageous displays over the past few months.
It is inconceivable! This just cannot be! It is not Manchester United! How can the greatest football club in the world be facing relegation at the Premier League table? This is unacceptable! These exclamations of disappointment and exasperation of Man U fans are real and can be expected.
Those of you who are long-time supporters, who grew up watching the dominance of the Sir Alex Ferguson era like me, are in disbelief at how far the club has fallen. Losing to teams that were once considered “small clubs” is humiliating.
Hello, you don’t expect Man U to lose to Brentford FC, Nottingham Forest, AFC Bournemouth or Wolverhampton Wanderers but they did. Yes, this is unacceptable, and rightly so!
Our Harimau Malaya team might have a chance at defeating Man U today if they were to travel to Kuala Lumpur for a friendly match.
We, Man U fans, are constantly looking back at the “good old days” of Ferguson when United was feared across Europe. The comparisons with the current team only make things more painful.
We remember players like Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and David Beckham who gave their all, and contrast them with the current squad’s inconsistency and lack of fight.
I was keen to know some of the worst Man U seasons over the past 20 years, and this is what espn.com reveals.
Over the past two decades, Man U’s lowest Premier League finish occurred in the 2021-2022 season when they ended in eighth place.
This marked a significant downturn for the club, as their previous worst finish in the Premier League era was seventh under David Moyes in the 2013-2014 season.
As of March 3, 2025, Manchester United is experiencing another challenging season, currently positioned 14th in the league standings.
This places them at risk of recording their worst Premier League finish in history.
So, what happened to the world’s Number One football club to cause such a dismal run, probably the worst in its history?
We can break it down to a mix of poor managerial decisions, ownership issues, recruitment failures, and a lack of long-term strategy.
It was reported that the Glazers’ ownership model, prioritising financial gains over footballing success, has burdened the club with debt. While commercial revenues have soared, on-field success has dwindled.
The lack of footballing vision was also to be blamed because, unlike clubs such as Manchester City or Liverpool, which have clear footballing philosophies, Man U has lacked a coherent identity since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
Managerial instability was a cause as, since Ferguson’s retirement, the club has had multiple managers with different styles.
The managers are as follows: David Moyes (2013-14), Louis van Gaal (2014-16), José Mourinho (2016-18), Ole Gunnar Solskjær (2018-21), Erik ten Hag (2022-2024), and the current Rúben Amorim, who assumed the role on November 11, 2024.
Then, there was the issue of poor signings. The club has spent over £1.5 billion on players since Ferguson’s exit but has failed to build a balanced squad.
Signings like Paul Pogba (£89m), Jadon Sancho (£73m), Antony (£85m) and Harry Maguire (£80m) have not lived up to expectations.
Instead of investing in a clear tactical project, they’ve spent big on star players without a coherent strategy. The club has failed to sign key players in crucial positions, such as defensive midfielders and strikers, who fit the system.
The rise of competitors must also be factored in. While Man U has faltered, their rivals, especially Manchester City and Liverpool, have been well-run and tactically advanced.
New contenders have emerged in clubs such as Newcastle, Aston Villa, and even Brighton, demonstrating improved recruitment strategies and coaching techniques, thereby increasing the competitiveness of the league.
So, what does the future hold for Manchester United? One thing is certain – don’t expect a giant like Man U to fade away. It will always be the pride of British football.
Manchester United fans hope that with British billionaire, Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s 27 percent stake in the club, and the new partner taking charge of football operations, a structured and long-term approach will be adopted at the club.
The club must decide on a style of play and recruit accordingly. Smarter signings will be key to avoiding past mistakes.
Manchester United’s fall from grace is not due to one single issue but a mix of ownership neglect, poor managerial choices, recruitment failures, and a lack of footballing identity. Unless they fix these core problems, their struggles will continue.
Man U fans must be hoping that their favourite club will be able to put their poor run and miseries behind them as soon as possible.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
