A New Stadium Won’t Save Manchester United - Here’s What Will

20 league titles, 3 Champions Leagues, 13 FA Cups, 6 League Cups, 21 FA Community Shields, 1 UEFA Europa League, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 1 FIFA Club World Cup, 1 Intercontinental Cup, 1 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup… and currently sitting 15th in the league.

This is Manchester United. A club built on a legacy of dominance, now drifting further from its former glory with each passing season.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s £2bn proposal to transform Old Trafford into a 100,000-seater modern coliseum is an exciting prospect. A state-of-the-art stadium would bring in matchday revenue, boost commercial appeal and is set to bring in £7.4bn per year to the UK economy.

But let’s be honest—it won’t fix the real problem.

A shiny new stadium won’t make Manchester United a dominant force again. It won’t solve the chaotic recruitment, inconsistent leadership, tactical instability, or ownership issues that have held the club back for over a decade.

So, if a modernized Old Trafford isn’t the answer, what is? Let’s break it down.

Foster + Partners unveiled conceptual images of the new stadium on Tuesday, and the project is undeniably impressive. The plans propose the demolition of Old Trafford, the iconic ground that has served Manchester United for 115 years. Built next to the existing site will be a state-of-the-art 100,000-seater stadium aiming to ‘preserve the essence of Old

Trafford’ while bringing United into a new era.

Architect Lord Norman Foster claims the project could be completed within five years, transforming the site in the UK’s fastest-growing city. His vision includes utilising the nearby canal to transport materials, creating a stadium that embodies environmentalism, efficiency, and modernity—a so-called ‘mini city’ for Manchester United.

There’s no doubt that Old Trafford is long overdue for change. Fans have endured leaking roofs, rodent infestations and the general decay of what was once the Theatre of Dreams. The stadium, once an icon of footballing greatness, has become a relic of the past.

But with United’s financial struggles and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s revelation that the club was on course for liquidation by the end of 2025, the question remains: Is this really the change Manchester United need right now?

Under Erik Ten Hag in the 2021/22 season, United had their record worst season only securing 58 points. Current manager Amorim could be on track to take the record from his predecessor, currently three positions above the relegation zone with 34 points.

The squad have been hit heavily with injuries and key players put out on loan in the January window. The transfer window saw Antony and Rashford on loan and both players have impressed at their respective clubs.

The injury crisis at the club has seen the likes of Lisandro Martinez, Amad Diallo Traore, Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount all unable to play. With squad depth lacking, United have seen themselves drop below previous relegation contenders Everton in the league.

Out of the FA Cup and holding on in the last eight of the Europa League, it seems increasingly unlikely that United will secure a trophy this season.

Under Erik ten Hag, the 2021/22 season marked a historic low for Manchester United, with the club securing just 58 points in their worst-ever Premier League campaign. Current manager Rúben Amorim could be on course to break that unwanted record, with United sitting just three spots above the relegation zone on 34 points.

It’s been a season plagued by injuries and questionable transfer decisions. The January window saw United sanction loan moves for Antony and Marcus Rashford, both of whom have rediscovered form at their respective clubs and raising questions about squad management.

Meanwhile, an injury crisis has left United severely depleted. Lisandro Martínez, Amad Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo, and Mason Mount have all spent significant time on the sidelines, exposing the squad’s lack of depth. United have dropped below previous relegation contenders Everton, further deepening their struggles.

With the club out of the FA Cup and clinging onto survival in the Europa League quarter-finals, the chances of United securing silverware this season are looking increasingly slim.

Manchester United’s struggles this season go far beyond injuries or an underperforming squad. The club has been stuck in a cycle of poor decision-making, short-term fixes, and mismanagement for over a decade. While a new stadium might symbolise progress, it won’t solve the underlying structural issues that have turned United into a club in decline.

To truly compete again, United need to address their real problems, starting with leadership, recruitment, and tactical direction.

Since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, Manchester United have lacked any real footballing vision. The club has lurched from one managerial era to the next, each with different styles and ideas, but no clear long-term strategy.

Frequent managerial changes mean there’s been no continuity or stability as the club has cycled through six permanent managers in 11 years, each trying to rebuild from scratch. Decision-making at the top has often been reactionary, prioritising short-term fixes over sustainable progress.

Compare this to Manchester City, Liverpool, or even Arsenal - clubs that have stuck to a footballing philosophy, allowing their managers to build over multiple seasons. United, by contrast, have constantly reset and restarted, leading to confusion in recruitment, playing style, and club identity.

Manchester United have spent over £1.43bn on transfers since Ferguson left and have run up a debt of near £1bn.

There is no clear recruitment strategy and the club’s signings often feel dictated by commercial appeal rather than footballing necessity. Expensive but ineffective signings such as Antony (£86m), Jadon Sancho (£73m), and even Casemiro (£60) show the lack of a cohesive transfer plan. Loaning out key players like Antony and Rashford in January despite an injury crisis seemed an odd move by the club.

Under Ferguson the play style was fast, attacking football with an emphasis on width and intensity. But since then, United have changed their tactical identity with every new manager, leading to a squad built for multiple different styles.

Compare this to Guardiola’s Manchester City, Klopp’s Liverpool or Arteta’s Arsenal - all teams that have committed to a clear style of play, recruiting players who fit their system. United, meanwhile, continue to patchwork their way through managerial changes without ever building a cohesive tactical foundation.

Perhaps the biggest issue of all lies at the very top with the ownership and financial priorities of Manchester United.

The Glazers have prioritised commercial success and cost-cutting over footballing excellence, taking out billions in dividends while failing to invest in a proper football structure. Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s recent £1.3bn investment in a 25% stake suggests change is coming, but will it be enough to fix years of poor decision-making?

United need to define their footballing identity and stop overpaying for underperforming players and instead take a data-driven, strategic approach to transfers—much like Brighton, Liverpool, and Arsenal. They need to invest in scouting, analytics, and youth development rather than just throwing money at big names.

Success comes from trusting and backing a manager long-term. Instead of hitting the reset button every two years, United need to build around a coach, give them real control, and ensure continuity in decision-making.

The biggest transformation United need isn’t a stadium, it’s better governance and leadership at board level. Whether that means a full Glazer ownership exit or structural changes that prioritise footballing success over financial returns,

A state-of-the-art 100,000-seater stadium won’t win United the Premier League. It won’t fix their chaotic recruitment, lack of tactical identity or poor decision-making at the top.

Until United focus on fixing the footballing structure, a new stadium will be nothing more than a cosmetic upgrade to a club that remains fundamentally broken.