Por Renan Filho · 2026-10-14
**Lead**
Manchester United are in the grip of a deepening crisis, with the club’s on-field performances falling far short of expectations. After a string of disappointing results in the Premier League and early exits from cup competitions, the spotlight has turned away from the dugout and towards the boardroom. Technical director Jason Wilcox, appointed earlier this year as part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s overhaul of the footballing structure, is now facing intense scrutiny over the club’s transfer strategy and long-term planning.
**Context**
United’s malaise is not new. Since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, the club has lurched from one rebuild to another, spending lavishly with little to show for it. The arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS in early 2024 promised a more data-driven and coherent approach. Ratcliffe moved quickly to install a new football leadership team, bringing in Omar Berrada as chief executive and Dan Ashworth as sporting director. Jason Wilcox, previously at Southampton and a former Manchester United youth player, was appointed as technical director in April 2024, tasked with overseeing the club’s recruitment and player development framework.
However, the 2024/25 season has brought little improvement. United have won only two of their opening eight league matches, languishing in the bottom half of the table. Defensive errors, a lack of creativity and a reliance on individual moments have plagued the team. The Carabao Cup exit to a mid-tier side added to the gloom. With each poor result, the question being asked is not just about Erik ten Hag’s future, but about the system that brought in the players he works with.
**Analise**
The scrutiny on Wilcox represents a shift in how football club failures are analysed. For years, the manager bore the brunt of criticism, but modern football structures place greater responsibility on those who build the squad. Wilcox, along with Dan Ashworth, is the architect of United’s recruitment strategy. The summer 2024 window was the first fully under his guidance, and the early signs are troubling. Big-money signings have struggled to adapt, while the squad remains imbalanced with a glut of attacking midfielders and a shortage of reliable centre-backs.
Why does this matter? Because Manchester United are not just any club. They are a global behemoth whose commercial success depends on on-field success. Continued underperformance risks not only revenue but the club’s ability to attract top talent. If the football structure is flawed, no manager may be able to succeed. The spotlight on Wilcox is therefore a test of Ratcliffe’s much-vaunted ‘project’. If the technical director cannot deliver a coherent playing identity and effective recruitment, then the entire INEOS rebuild is called into question.
The Carrick reference – though Michael Carrick is not currently involved with United – serves as a reminder of the club’s own history. Carrick, a former United player and caretaker manager, now successfully manages Middlesbrough. His name is often mentioned by fans as a symbol of the kind of intelligent, patient football the club lacks. The crisis at United is as much about identity as it is about results. Wilcox must now prove that his vision can reverse the decline, or risk being the next casualty of a club that has become a revolving door for football executives.
**Fontes**
BBC Sport – Manchester United’s season review and structural changes The Athletic – In-depth analysis of United’s recruitment under INEOS Sky Sports – Match reports and league standings Official Manchester United website – Executive appointments