Ineos’ attempt at trying to course correct Manchester United can be best seen when it is compared with the last starting XI the Red Devils fielded in the Champions League.
Manchester United will be back in the Champions League for the 2026-27 campaign after the Red Devils’ success since Michael Carrick’s appointment as interim boss.
The Red Devils are third in the Premier League table and Man Utd defeated Liverpool 3-2 at Old Trafford to ensure their return to European football.
United have not been in the Champions League since the 2023-24 campaign and before Sir Jim Ratcliffe became Red Devils co-owner at Old Trafford.
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Man Utd’s starting XI against Bayern Munich in 2023 shows the major issues the Red Devils had before Ineos’ arrival
Manchester United’s woes were summed up in the 2023-24 campaign under former Ajax manager Erik ten Hag after the Red Devils finished bottom of Group A.
Bayern Munich defeated Man Utd 1-0 at Old Trafford in the Champions League and the Red Devils have not played in UEFA’s top-tier club competition since then.
United fans won’t forget how disastrous the Champions League campaign was under Erik ten Hag, with Andre Onana dominating the headlines for his costly howlers.
Andre Onana has since been shipped out on loan to Trabzonspor and the former Man Utd No 1 is all but certain to be offloaded from Old Trafford this summer.
From the starting XI that Ten Hag used against Bayern Munich, only Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot remain as key players right now.
Man Utd’s Champions League XI against Bayern Munich from the Champions League clash in 2023 is posted below.
- GK: Andre Onana
- RB: Diogo Dalot
- CB: Harry Maguire
- CB: Raphael Varane
- LB: Luke Shaw
- CDM: Sofyan Amrabat
- CDM: Scott McTominay
- CAM: Bruno Fernandes
- RW: Antony
- LW: Alejandro Garnacho
- ST: Rasmus Hojlund
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Ineos have made mistakes, but Man Utd are now shaping up in a better position for the Champions League
United still lack squad depth for handling Champions League football for the 2026-27 campaign amid the Premier League season and other domestic competitions.
However, Ineos’ 2025 transfer window was transformative for the Red Devils and brought a major overhaul to key positions since the 2023 Bayern Munich defeat.
Rasmus Hojlund has been out on loan at Napoli and is set to leave United in the summer, while Alejandro Garnacho and Antony were both offloaded last summer.
United have now enjoyed a new-look attack with Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo, who have settled in well in their debut season at the club.
That is not to mention the arrival of United No 1 Senne Lammens, who has served as a major upgrade on Andre Onana since his arrival at Old Trafford in 2025.
Ineos still have a long path ahead of them in ‘fixing’ United, but the Champions League run next season looks nowhere near as daunting as it had been before.
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