The biggest issue for MU is not Ruben Amorim
Coach Ruben Amorim is under heavy pressure after Manchester United’s embarrassing defeat to Grimsby Town in the League Cup penalty shootout. Yet, the primary blame should fall on INEOS executives who need to face up to and accept responsibility for the club’s state at Old Trafford.
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Manchester United hit a new low in the early hours of August 28, being knocked out of the English League Cup by League Two side Grimsby Town after a tense penalty shootout, despite a 2-2 draw in regular time. The manner of their collapse is even more concerning than the result itself. For most of the match, they were dominated and outplayed by a lower-tier opponent.
This defeat puts Coach Ruben Amorim at a very real risk of dismissal. The Portuguese manager appeared stunned during his post-match interview with Sky Sports. However, while the head coach bears direct responsibility, the INEOS group and Sir Jim Ratcliffe behind the scenes must also share some of the blame.
The biggest problem at Man Utd is not on the sidelines, but in the boardroom
Since the chemical conglomerate INEOS took over, Manchester United has become a chaotic mess in terms of media and management. From firing low-level staff, canceling Christmas parties, to dismal performances on the pitch, Old Trafford has never sunk so low as it has now.
This is hardly surprising given INEOS’s rather poor track record in football management. Even before Ratcliffe invested hundreds of millions of pounds to acquire a 27.7% stake, warnings had been issued. Now they have full control over Manchester United’s sporting results, yet the outcomes remain deeply disappointing.
Mistakes previously made at Lausanne and Nice are now exposed on the biggest stage, while INEOS seems oblivious to the reputational damage they are inflicting on a historically rich club.
The history of empty promises from INEOS
The case of Nice serves as a stark example. Two years ago, veteran defender Dante openly expressed his disappointment: “They said we would always be in the Champions League for two years. But Ligue 1 is very tough. Last season we changed too much, lost 10 players and brought in 10 new ones. Teams reaching European cup semifinals usually keep their core for three or four years. Here, there was no cohesion at all.”
He emphasized: “It’s time to be clear about what you say. Don’t overstate goals, work quietly, because the higher the expectations, the greater the fans’ disappointment. Stability and early organization are what’s needed.”
Expert Jerome Rothen also sharply criticized on RMC broadcast: “Between not spending billions as promised and only investing sporadically, at least there should be a long-term commitment to create stability. That’s the path to success. But with INEOS, everything seems up for sale.”
Fierce fan backlash: “INEOS Out!”
Ironically, last season Nice managed to qualify for the Champions League playoff while INEOS had to “keep distance” due to Manchester United’s involvement in the Europa League. Now, with Man Utd out of Europe, this group’s renewed intervention has sparked fresh protests at Allianz Riviera.
Nice supporters have even launched the “INEOS Out” campaign. Fan Loris De Gregorio told France Bleu: “We welcomed INEOS’s arrival in 2019. At first, things were okay, but now there’s no direction and no investment. Since they bought Manchester United in 2023, Jim Ratcliffe no longer cares about OGC Nice. When he admitted in March that he doesn’t watch the matches, it’s disrespectful and worrying.”
The history at Nice seems to be repeating itself at Old Trafford. INEOS’s lack of clear strategy has pushed Man Utd to a record low position in the Premier League last season, and now threatens to drag the club into a new abyss in the 2025/26 season.
In reality, Ruben Amorim is merely the visible symptom of problems at Old Trafford, with the root cause lying at the top.
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