Man Utd’s season is already hitting rock bottom, but is it a crisis of their own making? From penalty shoot-out heartbreak to questions over key management decisions, the pressure is mounting on Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Has the bold gamble on Ruben Amorim backfired spectacularly, or is there still hope for a turnaround at Old Trafford?

Manchester United’s 2025/26 season has spiraled into an alarming early-stage crisis, with the club still searching for its first victory and suffering a humiliating cup exit. This dire predicament places immense pressure on key figures, particularly Sir Jim Ratcliffe, whose pivotal decisions regarding manager Ruben Amorim are now under intense scrutiny as the club navigates a profound Football Crisis.

The latest blow came with a disheartening penalty shootout loss against Grimsby, effectively extinguishing any hopes of securing a first piece of silverware at the earliest opportunity. This result not only marked a continuation of Manchester United’s winless streak but also deepened the gloom surrounding a campaign that began with high expectations and significant investment at Old Trafford.

Ruben Amorim himself appears increasingly beleaguered, with his post-match interviews offering little reassurance and inevitably recalling past admissions where a potential resignation was openly discussed. The mounting pressure on the 40-year-old manager underscores the severity of the club’s current struggles and raises questions about his long-term tenure.

For Sir Jim Ratcliffe, along with chief executive Omar Berrada and technical director Jason Wilcox, the situation must provoke serious introspection. They aggressively pursued Amorim’s signature, with Berrada reportedly informing the manager that an immediate move to Old Trafford was imperative, rather than waiting for the following summer, signaling a significant commitment.

However, this high-stakes decision directly contradicted the advice of a highly coveted director they had painstakingly brought into the club. United had extensively courted Dan Ashworth, even paying substantial compensation to secure his services, only to then seemingly disregard his initial key recommendations for managerial candidates.

Ashworth had previously suggested names such as Thomas Frank, Marco Silva, and Graham Potter, all of whom have experienced varied career trajectories. The act of publicly pursuing Ashworth with such vigor, only to then sideline one of his first major strategic suggestions, now looms large in the minds of the club’s hierarchy as they confront this deepening Football Crisis.

The question of whether Amorim was truly worth this internal political cost and the dismissal of expert advice is undoubtedly weighing on the club’s decision-makers. In many respects, Manchester United went all-in on Amorim and his distinct tactical system, which has already led to significant squad changes and the departure of key talents like Alejandro Garnacho, with others also facing uncertain futures.

Should the current winless run persist, further drastic decisions regarding the club’s direction will undoubtedly be made. However, the focus of these changes is unlikely to be solely on the playing squad; rather, the spotlight will inevitably turn towards the very architectural decisions that have shaped this precarious start to the season under Sir Jim Ratcliffe.