Manchester United’s Premier League campaign has been nothing short of disastrous, with the club sitting in 16th place after a string of poor results.
The Red Devils are in crisis mode both on and off the field after losing 17 league games this season.
Even if their run through Europe has given them hope, notably a convincing 7-1 aggregate victory over Athletic Bilbao to advance to the final, it hasn’t done much to hide how disappointing their season has been overall.
Pressure is growing since the Europa League final is now their sole chance to win a trophy and qualify for the Champions League. Ruben Amorim, who has recently been critical of Man United, is the center of attention.
However, Gary Neville has now shared a theory on Dan Ashworth’s abrupt departure from the club, raising doubts about INEOS and the instability behind the scenes.
Gary Neville on why he thinks Dan Ashworth left Manchester United
There have been significant changes at Old Trafford since INEOS took over football operations in February.
The most well-known of these was the hiring of Dan Ashworth as sporting director, who was brought in from Newcastle with the goal of spearheading United’s long-term reconstruction.
But Ashworth abruptly left the position after only four months, allegedly because of conflicts with the club’s management.
Neville speculated on the Stick to Football podcast that Ashworth’s inclination for a British manager like as Gareth Southgate would have clashed with Manchester United’s management.
Neville said, “It’s maybe why Dan [Ashworth] left,” in response to Ian Wright’s claim that Southgate would be heavily criticized if he were leading United in their current situation. Dan may have left for that reason.
INEOS’ time at Manchester United so far
A major change in power at Manchester United occurred when Sir Jim Ratcliffe paid £1.25 billion to acquire a 27.7% share in the team, moving football operations out of the Glazers’ control.
However, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made a number of contentious moves behind the scenes, making their tenure anything than easy.
Ashworth’s abrupt resignation was the first significant sign of internal discord.
His abrupt departure, which was seen as a pillar of INEOS’s strategy, suggested a more serious disagreement over United’s future course.
Ashworth’s relationship with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and CEO Omar Berrada was reportedly strained as a result of his exclusion from important decisions, particularly those pertaining to Ruben Amorim. This finally led to a £4.1 million contract termination.
A number of cost-cutting initiatives that INEOS has put in place have also not been warmly received internally.
In an attempt to cut costs, United fired a number of long-serving employees and even called off their staff Christmas party. These actions are seen by many as tone deaf in light of the team’s ongoing difficulties.
On the field, INEOS has made a substantial commitment in restructuring the team by spending over £230 million on transfers.
However, the intended impact has not yet been achieved by high-profile recruits, and the level of spending has not been reflected in the outcomes.
It is anticipated that all focus will turn to Manchester United as INEOS looks to sell the French team OGC Nice.
The club is preparing a major roster revamp, therefore the forthcoming summer transfer window will be crucial.
Ruben Amorim has apparently been endorsed by the hierarchy as their long-term manager, although it is unclear if he will be able to change the course at Old Trafford.
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