The Manchester United ownership saga, which has captivated the football world for a full year, appears to be nearing its conclusion. Sir Jim Ratcliffe‘s acquisition of a 25% stake in the club for approximately £1.3 billion heralds a new chapter at Old Trafford, promising significant changes in the football operations while the Glazer family retains majority control. This Six6s analysis delves deep into the implications of this seismic shift, examining the club’s structure, the manager’s position, and the squad’s future.
The Structural Overhaul: INEOS Takes the Reins
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS group, including the renowned Sir Dave Brailsford, are poised to assume control of Manchester United’s football operations. This move is not merely a financial investment; it’s a strategic play to overhaul a system that has been criticized for years.
Why Football Operations Were the Key Demand
From the outset, Ratcliffe‘s philosophy has been clear: success on the pitch is intrinsically linked to excellence off it. During the bidding process, presentations from United’s hierarchy revealed a structure that INEOS deemed inefficient and outdated. A source close to Brailsford told Six6s, “They identified a critical lack of agility and modern analytical application. The changes made in the last 18 months are seen as a decade too late.” The plan is to install a new CEO and Sporting Director—with Jean-Claude Blanc and Paul Mitchell as frontrunners—to spearhead a sweeping revolution across recruitment, medical, performance, and data analytics departments. This is a complete culture reversal, aimed at rooting out the deep-seated issues that have led to a spate of off-field problems.
Navigating the Division of Power
A major question looms: how will the division of responsibilities between INEOS’s football operations and the Glazers’ commercial interests work in practice? Elements like facility upgrades and stadium redevelopment sit in both camps. While Joel Glazer remains the ultimate decision-maker, sources indicate that Ratcliffe’s substantial investment came with iron-clad guarantees of autonomy to implement his vision. The belief is that on-pitch success will benefit all parties financially. However, as football analyst Mark Thompson notes, “The proof will be in the pudding. Watching how this power-sharing model functions day-to-day will be fascinating. INEOS’s ultimate goal remains full control.”
The Managerial Conundrum: Erik ten Hag’s Precarious Position
Erik ten Hag walks a tightrope. He ended a trophy drought and secured Champions League football in his first season, yet the current campaign has been mired in inconsistency and poor performances.
Retaining Faith Amidst the Storm
Why does Ten Hag still have backing? He inherited a dispirited squad and navigated the Cristiano Ronaldo exit, achieving tangible short-term success. His meticulous methods improved standards at Carrington, from nutrition to rest protocols. However, the club acknowledges that granting him overwhelming transfer influence was a error. True support, as seen at Manchester City with Txiki Begiristain and Arsenal with Edu, involves a structured recruitment team working for the manager, not solely on his requests. Ten Hag is currently a symptom of the wider structural disease at United, not the cause itself.
The Style and Substance Deficit
The most damning criticism is the absence of a recognizable playing style. Ten Hag’s Ajax was lauded for its proactive, possession-dominant football, but United are oceans away from his stated aim of being “the best transition team in the world.” Injuries to key players like Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw have devastated the team’s balance and build-up play, affecting new signings like André Onana and Rasmus Hojlund. The midfield has been dysfunctional, with Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount often leaving Casemiro exposed. While injuries are a factor, the team’s petulance and inability to fight back into games are coaching issues. Ten Hag must find a way to mesh direct players with his philosophy, as he did in Amsterdam.
The Jadon Sancho Standoff: A Failure of Man-Management
The handling of the Jadon Sancho situation has been a textbook example of poor conflict resolution. A £72 million asset has been ostracized since September over a deleted social media post. While the club saw it as a challenge to the manager’s authority, many within the game believe a more nuanced approach was needed. A youth coach who worked with Sancho shared with Six6s: “Jadon responds to an arm around the shoulder. Sometimes the strong move is to be gentle. The club holds the power and the responsibility to resolve this, not just the player.” This stalemate benefits no one and highlights a stubbornness that has hampered progress.
The Squad: Analyzing the Key Issues On the Pitch
The playing personnel are at the heart of United’s struggles, with several perplexing situations unfolding.
The Curious Case of Raphael Varane
Raphael Varane’s absence from the starting lineup is a tactical, not a personal, decision. Ten Hag has consistently preferred a left-footer at left centre-back for better build-up angles and team orientation. With Martínez injured, right-footers like Victor Lindelöf and Jonny Evans have been preferred for their comfort on the left. This has pitted Varane directly against an in-form Harry Maguire for the right-sided role. Once Martínez and Shaw return, Varane’s route back into the team becomes much clearer.
Marcus Rashford’s Form Dip
Marcus Rashford’s dramatic dip in form is a cocktail of collective team failure and personal mentality. The absence of Luke Shaw has burdened him with more defensive duties and removed a crucial creative foil on the left flank. However, Rashford himself has spoken about the mental side of the game, stating, “Football is probably 95 per cent your mentality.” He must rediscover the focus and resilience that propelled him to his best seasons.
January Transfer Window: A Period of Uncertainty
The January window presents a complex challenge. With INEOS conducting a full audit of the football structure, the club’s strategy is unclear. Financial Fair Play (FFP) concerns will likely prevent a major splash. The striker position is a topic of debate; while there is faith in Rasmus Højlund’s long-term potential, the Danish striker has struggled without adequate service. The club did not expect him to be the finished product and acknowledges the difficult environment he’s adapting to. A short-term option may be explored, but a major signing is improbable. Furthermore, if André Onana commits to the Africa Cup of Nations with Cameroon, backup goalkeeper Altay Bayındır is trusted to step in.
Rasmus Hojlund’s development is a long-term project, but the lack of service and team structure has hampered his start.
The Six6s Analysis: Inside Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Manchester United Takeover and the Road Ahead
The arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS marks the beginning of a long-overdue revolution at Manchester United. The focus on streamlining football operations, implementing modern data-driven processes, and instilling a new culture is the right blueprint. However, the path is fraught with challenges: navigating a shared power structure, supporting a manager under pressure, and revitalizing a underperforming squad. For fans yearning for a return to the top, this is a watershed moment filled with both hope and apprehension. The Six6s team will be watching every development closely.
What are your thoughts on the INEOS takeover? Can Erik ten Hag turn the season around? Share your opinions and join the conversation in the comments below.
