It wasn’t that long ago that Manchester United fans were bracing for another season of disappointment.
The drama, the disunity, and the dismal performances had cast a dark cloud over the club.
But now, there’s a real shift in the atmosphere — and it’s not just about the results on the pitch.
Behind the scenes, under Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s leadership, things are moving in a new and promising direction.
Carrington Gets a £50m Makeover
One of the most symbolic changes happens on Friday morning: the unveiling of a completely revamped Carrington training complex.
A £50 million upgrade has turned the place into a top-tier facility, but it’s more than just new gym gear and fancy lights.
For the first time, various departments from Old Trafford will be working under one roof, part of Ratcliffe’s plan to make the club more united — quite literally.
A Bumpy First Year Under Ratcliffe
Let’s be honest, Ratcliffe’s first year at United hasn’t exactly been smooth.
The team suffered its worst season in over 50 years. Redundancies hurt morale, and fans weren’t thrilled with his ticketing policies.
Still, a year later, it finally looks like the changes are starting to click — and people around the club are cautiously optimistic.
From Europa Heartbreak to Pre-Season Hope
When United slumped out of the Europa League final against Spurs in Bilbao, things looked bleak.
But fast forward just a few months and the mood is completely different.
United is unbeaten in pre-season, even winning the Premier League Summer Series in the U.S., with wins over West Ham, Bournemouth, and Everton.
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola called them “a hell of a team” — and it shows.
A New Leadership Structure That’s Actually Working
This time, the optimism isn’t just based on form. The club now has a clear and effective leadership structure.
Omar Berrada is CEO, Jason Wilcox is the new director of football, and Sam Erith leads performance.
All three were part of Manchester City’s success and bring that winning DNA.
Their focus? A “football first” approach, which has already taken shape with the new Carrington setup — complete with high-performance features and even a barbershop for players.
Less Distraction, More Focus on Football
During the U.S. tour, while the club lit up Niagara Falls in team colors and pitched a new £2 billion stadium to investors, the players were kept away from the commercial circus.
Sponsorship appearances were capped at two per player, allowing Amorim and the squad to focus entirely on football. A welcome change for a club that’s often been criticized for prioritizing marketing over performance.
Ineos and United Are Finally Aligned
There’s finally a sense that Manchester United and Ineos are pulling in the same direction.
Sir Dave Brailsford, who helped with Carrington’s transformation, has stepped back but remains on the board.
The baton has been passed to Berrada, Wilcox, Christopher Vivell (recruitment), and Matt Hargreaves (negotiations) — the key names behind United’s bold £210m summer signing spree.
Targeted Signings, Not Just Big Names
Instead of chasing flashy stars, United zeroed in on Premier League-proven talents.
Bryan Mbeumo (£71m) and Matheus Cunha (£62.5m) were top targets — both choosing United over Champions League clubs because they believe in the project.
There’s been no panic over missing out on Viktor Gyokeres or Hugo Ekitike either. The goal: get the right players, not just names.
Building for the Long Term, Not Just This Season
United isn’t pretending they’re ready to dominate overnight.
The club knows it will take another two to three summer windows to build the ideal squad.
With no European football this season — only the second time in 35 years — they’ve opted for a smaller, tighter group focused on rebuilding properly.
Amorim’s Bold Leadership Choices
In just seven months, Ruben Amorim has stamped his authority.
He left behind players like Jadon Sancho, Antony, Alejandro Garnacho, and Tyrell Malacia for the tour — even sent Marcus Rashford out on loan to Barcelona.
His message was clear: commitment or you’re out. Injured stars like Lisandro Martinez and Andre Onana still traveled to the U.S. just to be part of the group culture.
A Player-Led Leadership Team Takes Charge
A new six-man leadership team has been introduced — Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire, Diogo Dalot, Tom Heaton, Noussair Mazraoui, and Martinez. The idea is to make players accountable for their standards, creating a self-policing environment.
Shaw and Casemiro had been part of a similar setup under Ten Hag, but by Shaw’s own admission, it never really worked.
Eating Together, Winning Together
From day one, Amorim has focused on unity. He squeezed bigger tables into the team hotel to ensure players ate together, separated from staff. That idea has spread to Carrington and Old Trafford too.
At first, players still stuck to language-based cliques, but sources say it’s a lot more blended now.
Nights Out, Curfews, and Team Bonding
The U.S. tour wasn’t all drills and discipline.
The players had nights out in Chicago, with curfews in place and some alcohol allowed — a more relaxed but responsible approach. Amorim is clear: treat players like adults, not kids.
He allows phones at the dinner table, but with limits. “They’re not babies,” he said on tour. “They’re men, and I treat them as such.”
Fun Traditions and a Fresh Vibe
There were team initiation ceremonies, plenty of group dinners, and even a Drake concert when they got back to Manchester.
The club DJ duties, usually handled by Dalot, have now been democratized — everyone picks a song for the playlist.
Little things, yes, but they help foster camaraderie.
Behind the Scenes, a Whole New Look
It’s not just the players who’ve changed. Amorim’s brought in trusted staff from Portugal and Brazil — from physios to chefs.
One standout is chef Will Carvalho, whose rice pudding became a squad favorite.
He now works closely with the nutrition team, showing how departments are becoming more integrated.
Embracing Data and AI — The Ineos Way
United’s transformation also includes a data revolution.
Mike Sansoni, a former Mercedes F1 expert, is leading the club’s data and AI strategy.
He’s already helped identify Mbeumo as a Salah-style signing using performance analytics.
Smarter Training, Shorter Meetings
On the training ground, Amorim has scrapped long analysis sessions and double training days.
Instead, he mixes shooting with running, and ends sessions with mini-games — where losers carry the gear.
It’s more engaging, and it showed on tour. The players looked sharper and more in sync.
Realism Amid the Optimism
Of course, it’s still early days. Manchester United has had false dawns before.
The opening match against Arsenal at Old Trafford will be a massive test. But for now, there’s genuine belief around the club.
As one insider put it: “We’re in a really good place — but no one thinks we’ve cracked it yet.”