Ineos have not been in charge at Manchester United for long, but they are already setting some awful benchmarks.
After taking over football operations at Manchester United during the 2023/24 season, Ineos probably could not believe their luck to soon be basking in the glory of a FA Cup victory.
The cold truth is that while Ineos were present, they had little input, only putting their executive team into place during summer 2024.
And since then it has all been downhill, with their two seasons punctured by two manager sackings, first Erik ten Hag, then their chosen replacement Ruben Amorim.
Last season saw United record a worst ever Premier League finish, ending the campaign in 15th.
Now there is more unwanted history, with United embarrassed in both cups.
Ineos have helped Manchester United create the wrong type of history this season!
Do you blame ownership, managers, or the players?
Manchester United’s early exits
Manchester United’s 2025/26 season is now solely dependent on the Premier League, with the campaign spiralling out of control.
United were knocked out of the Carabao Cup in the opening round they entered, against Grimsby Town.
And now in the FA Cup, United were eliminated in the third round, the team’s entry point, losing 2-1 at home to Brighton.
This early double elimination occurs for the first time since 1981/82.
It is more unwanted history for Manchester United in the Ineos era, following on from the disastrous league finish in 2024/25.
If Ineos had been in charge for 20 years, then you could accept that over a long period there would probably be some lean points.
But in the two seasons they have overseen, a worrying trend of incompetence and awful results is emerging.
Managers and players come and go, and they should take responsibility – but Ineos are the ones overseeing it and need to fix it.
Ineos need to sort this out at Man Utd immediately – there is no direction
How worried are you about the rest of the season?
Poor form for United
Manchester United’s defeat to Brighton was only the team’s third defeat since September. That’s not bad in itself.
What is really worrying is the number of draws and the fact the team appear to be getting progressively worse.
United have only won two games since the end of the international break in November, despite facing teams placed mostly in the bottom half of the Premier League table.
Upcoming matches against title contenders City and Arsenal could make the situation even worse.
United’s season is not lost, yet. But if we arrive in mid-February without any more wins, then it’s over.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
