The 2024/2025 season was meant to herald a fresh era for Manchester United. Instead, it spiraled into the club’s most disastrous Premier League campaign, culminating in a 15th-place finish the lowest in their history and a Europa League final loss. What was envisioned as a revival under new leadership turned into a season marred by chaos, injury, and internal strife.
1. Injury Crisis Sparks Internal Alarm
February marked a turning point when a string of injuries during and after an intense training session sent shockwaves through the club. Lisandro Martinez’s serious ligament injury was followed by knocks to Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte, Toby Collyer, and Amad Diallo in quick succession. These incidents raised concerns about overtraining and managerial oversight. With tensions growing, players and staff began to question whether the methods introduced by new head coach Rúben Amorim were sustainable.
2. Amorim’s Frustration Boils Over
Amorim’s emotional nature reached a boiling point after a 3–1 loss to Brighton in January. In a fiery dressing room scene, he smashed a tactical screen, symbolizing his growing dissatisfaction with the club’s structure and direction. His cryptic post-match comments hinted at resignation, and only the intervention of key executives persuaded him to stay. The moment signaled deep fractures between the head coach and the leadership structure.
3. Sir Jim’s Disruptive Influence
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s hands-on approach was meant to signal a new, results-driven era. Instead, it unsettled many within the club. From demanding performance metrics from kitchen staff to personally assessing warm-up routines, Ratcliffe’s involvement blurred boundaries. His clash with sporting director Dan Ashworth over mass layoffs and managerial succession led to Ashworth’s public and abrupt exit. His chilly relationship with former manager Erik ten Hag also set a combative tone early in the season.
4. The Garnacho and Rashford Fallouts
Amorim’s strict tactical system clashed with the squad’s core attacking identity. Alejandro Garnacho, having produced consistent performances, was abruptly benched and later told to find a new club after expressing frustration. Marcus Rashford, meanwhile, was sidelined following disciplinary breaches and a disappointing comeback. His loan to Aston Villa came after a late-night incident that Amorim deemed unacceptable. These incidents underscored a breakdown in player-management relations.
5. A Fractured Dressing Room and Support Staff Exodus
Morale dipped further as trusted backroom staff began to depart. The exit of long-serving medical professionals and abrupt layoffs following a supposed team-building barbecue left many players disillusioned. Some, like Luke Shaw, opted for private rehab arrangements, signaling a breakdown in trust within the club’s internal structure.
6. Unwanted Miles and Commercial Fatigue
United’s post-season tour spanning five countries and capped by promotional appearances in India drained an already exhausted squad. While financially motivated, the tour prioritized commercial gain over competitive readiness. The club’s financial missteps, including over £14 million in severance pay, compounded frustrations.
7. Confusing Sporting Investments
Attempts to modernize the squad’s fitness and performance regimes backfired. While some players welcomed guidance from elite sprint coach Harry Marra, others saw the club’s spending including nearly £200,000 on body language consulting as frivolous. Cost-cutting moves elsewhere, such as axing a small donation to the former players’ association, only fueled resentment.
As the dust settles, Manchester United faces a pivotal decision: back Amorim’s revolution or risk deeper implosion. With the dressing room fractured, commercial pressures mounting, and leadership dynamics under scrutiny, the club’s path to redemption remains anything but clear.
