Have Manchester United Become Too Big to Be Fixed?

Image credit: Sport Enjoyment

When Manchester United stumbled to a dismal 15th-place finish last season, the football world stood in shock. But was it really surprising? 

Or was it just the inevitable collapse of a club that has become a bloated version of its former self—more corporation than football club, more marketing brand than winning machine?

That’s the uncomfortable question United fans must now ask: Has Manchester United become too big to be fixed?

A Legacy That's Now a Burden

Manchester United isn’t just a football club—it’s a global empire.

 From Lagos to London, Delhi to Dubai, fans wear the badge with pride. 

But that massive legacy may now be weighing the club down. 

Every manager since Sir Alex Ferguson has had to coach in his shadow. Every player is compared to a Class of ’92 legend. 

Every season begins with unrealistic expectations, fueled by nostalgic dreams and YouTube highlight reels.

It’s like trying to drive a bus built in 1999 through a Formula 1 race.

The Business of Failure

United generates over £600 million annually, sells millions of shirts, and has more Instagram followers than almost any club on earth. 

But what’s all that worth on the pitch?

Ownership under the Glazers has often prioritized commercial partnerships over footballing performance. 

New tractors in India, noodle deals in Asia, and countless social media campaigns haven’t translated to titles.

The club’s size—once its greatest strength—is now an anchor.

 Decision-making is slow. Recruitment is scattered. Managers come and go, but the structure above them stays broken.

Managers or Mascots?

Erik ten Hag was supposed to restore discipline and order.

 Instead, he got sucked into internal politics, injury crises, and squad imbalances. 

Now it’s Rúben Amorim’s turn to steady the ship.

But here’s the problem: how do you rebuild a house when you can’t tear down the foundation? 

Amorim may be brilliant, but he’s entering a machine that chews up talented managers and spits them out. 

Without structural reform—real control over transfers, smarter analytics, and a clear footballing identity—he’s just another name on the list.

The Arsenal and Brighton Comparison

Contrast that with clubs like Arsenal, who backed Arteta through tough times and rebuilt with a plan.

Or Brighton, whose model is the envy of Europe—smart scouting, long-term vision, minimal drama.

United has none of that. Just noise.

Can a Giant Learn to Walk Again?

The painful truth is this: Manchester United may need to shrink before it can grow again.

Strip down the egos, the inflated wages, the obsession with star power. Reclaim the identity. Focus on football, not optics.

It’s not about throwing more money at the problem—it’s about changing the system. 

Until then, the club might continue to be the richest underachiever in world football.

Because sometimes, the biggest problem with Manchester United… is just how big they’ve become.