Gary Lineker has not held back in his criticism of Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe and the club's management.
The former England striker believes the problems plaguing the team extend well beyond the pitch. On the podcast The Rest is Football, Lineker expressed his opinions:
I look at Manchester United and see issues that stem from the top. Congratulations to the Glazers: they’ve found someone even worse than themselves, brought him into the club, and now Jim Ratcliffe is bearing the brunt of it.
I don’t think he’s particularly pleasant. The football club, as it stands, is an absolute shambles in terms of management. So hats off to the Glazers — they’ve done well to divert attention away from themselves.
Under Ratcliffe's stewardship, Manchester United endured their worst Premier League season, finishing a dismal 15th. While the team managed to claim third place under Michael Carrick thereafter, the current campaign has begun poorly, with just one victory in their first five matches and an early exit from the League Cup.
Lineker also highlighted the troubling situation surrounding 15-year-old Jay-Jay Gabriel, who has requested to leave the club:
This club is in utter chaos right now. The stadium is falling apart, and there are constant complaints and issues.
They are losing young talents — Gabriel’s story seems to be just another example of this. Results are still unstable. The club has backed managers multiple times, but it hasn’t worked. This means something is truly amiss at the top.
After five matches, Manchester United secured only one win in the Premier League. Carrick’s side will next face Tottenham after the international break on October 10.
