Sir Jim Ratcliffe's remarks following Manchester United's triumph in last year's FA Cup hinted at a lack of success for his ambitious Project 150 initiative. The Red Devils defied expectations at Wembley last May, securing a 2-1 victory over rivals Manchester City to claim their sole piece of silverware for the season.
Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo overturned Jeremy Doku's goal to snatch the domestic cup, leaving football enthusiasts nationwide in awe. And Ratcliffe, a minority shareholder at United, admitted post-match that his team were not expected to come out on top. He said: "Manchester United were clearly not the favourites to win today," adding: "But they played with total commitment and skill and overcame one of the great teams in football.
"We are all very proud of the players and the staff who work tirelessly to support them." Yet, his comments about United's underdog status - and the distance from reversing it - sparked debate when he unveiled Project 150, aiming to restore the Red Devils to the pinnacle of English football by 2028, coinciding with the club's 150th anniversary.
United finished an all-time low eighth in the Premier League under Erik ten Hag during the 2023/24 season, with the club's performances falling dramatically short of local rivals Man City as well as other top-tier fixtures like Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Arsenal. Ten Hag was shown the doors of Old Trafford in October 2024 after a series of lacklustre matches, making way for Ruben Amorim to take over the next month.
Still, concerns are rife among fans as the team languishes at the bottom of the table, with the lowest-ever Premier League finish in their sights, largely attributed to Amorim's struggle to tailor his squad to his game plan. Even as the management signals that Amorim will require more time to steer the ship back on course, implementing changes as far-reaching as the club's academy structure, patience grows thin.
A source opened up to the Mirror in March, explaining: "Amorim felt he could get more from the current squad when he came in and there have been some encouraging results. But there's no getting away from the fact that overall it's been a really tough watch - and that it's going to take a lot of time and patience to get the team to where they should be.
"You've got to be brave or foolish to think winning the league by 2028 is doable from where United currently are." More than a decade has slipped by since Sir Alex Ferguson said farewell to the Red Devils, leaving behind a void of victories that the club still struggles to fill.
Old Trafford has seen a revolving door of managers, including David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ten Hag and now Amorim, all failing to reverse the club's fortunes. Despite this, the board remains committed to giving Amorim time to mould a team that fits his style of play, even if it means abandoning Project 150.
The Premier League's PSR rules pose another challenge for United. The club could only afford to sign Patrick Dorgu for £25million and Arsenal's Ayden Heaven in the January window, while agreeing loan departures for Marcus Rashford, Antony, and Tyrell Malacia.
If United can secure permanent moves for these players, and potentially sell Jadon Sancho to Chelsea for £20m following his loan spell at Stamford Bridge, it could help reduce the club's significant debts. As of March, the club reportedly owed £733m in debts, with an additional £315m due in outstanding transfer fees.