Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos were dealt some ‘hard truths’ from Manchester United’s Premier League encounter with Manchester City at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The 73-year-old British billionaire was in the Old Trafford directors’ box alongside Avram Glazer for Manchester United’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester City.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe had a front-row seat to some of the major problems that are still present at United during Ineos’ control of football operations at the club.
United In Focus has now looked at the five things that not even Ratcliffe and Ineos could bury their heads in the sand after the Man Utd vs Man City fixture.
READ MORE: Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick feel differently on where Man Utd looked ‘better’ than Man City in 1-0 loss
Avram Glazer, co-owner of Manchester United, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Manchester United, Omar Berrada, chief-executive officer of Manchester United, and Jason Wilcox, director of football at Manchester United, watch on during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford on September 13, 2026 in Manchester, England.
Photo by Alex Livesey – Danehouse/Getty Images
1. Man Utd fans’ ticket sentiment on the Ineos and the Glazers is an elephant in the room
Outside of the performance, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos were unable to shift their eyes away from the noise that Manchester United fans created at Old Trafford.
According to The Daily Telegraph, thousands of Man Utd supporters took part in the protests against the Premier League club’s attempted anti-ticket operations.
Against the backdrop of United’s mixed start to the season, the Glazers and Ineos are still feeling the heat over their heavy-handed ticket approach in the summer.
READ MORE: Roy Keane cannot unsee Man Utd’s ‘constant problem’ under Michael Carrick after 1-0 Man City defeat
2. Joshua Zirkzee’s reception at Old Trafford spoke volumes about Ineos’ transfer shortcomings
Joshua Zirkzee took to the pitch in the 83rd minute after he replaced Marcus Rashford and the noise from United fans was dialled down by about 10.
The 25-year-old United striker had been linked with a move away from Old Trafford, with the likes of Fiorentina, Everton, Juventus, Como and Napoli all interested.
Joshua Zirkzee was kept at Old Trafford — even after Everton submitted a deadline-day approach — and his reception on Sunday summed up Ineos’ inability to offload him.
READ MORE: Gary Neville says Michael Carrick can be ‘angry,’ despite ‘quite clear’ mistake Man Utd boss made vs Man City
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3. Michael Carrick’s defensive concerns were amplified against Man City
Harry Maguire’s performance against Manchester City showed a key problem with the Red Devils’ centre-back selection under Michael Carrick at Old Trafford.
United lack pace with their main centre-back pick outside of Lisandro Martinez and former Red Devils skipper Harry Maguire is not getting any younger either.
Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven were left as unused substitutes, but Carrick knows full well that United have a weakness to direct, high-speed attacks against their defence.
READ MORE: Kobbie Mainoo received bigger benefit from Phil Foden’s sending off than any other Man Utd player, despite defeat
4. Patrick Dorgu is not a short- or long-term solution to Luke Shaw at left-back
Patrick Dorgu put in a steady performance for United against Sabah at Old Trafford on Thursday evening after playing at left-back in the absence of Luke Shaw.
United manager Carrick had to stick with Patrick Dorgu for the second match running in the role and the left-back dilemma was still clear for the Red Devils.
Dorgu played Erling Haaland onside for City’s controversial winner against Man Utd and the 21-year-old Danish full-back left much to be desired with his performance.
READ MORE: Benjamin Sesko vs Man City has left Man Utd fans to send same demand to Michael Carrick over his ‘logic’
5. Man Utd are exposed with their lack of striker options outside of Benjamin Sesko
Even with Joshua Zirkzee’s place in the United first-team squad, it is clear that Carrick does not see him as an effective alternative to Red Devils striker Benjamin Sesko.
Carrick used Matheus Cunha down the middle for the Man City match and benched Benjamin Sesko at the start before the latter came on in the second half on Sunday.
United had been urged to sign another forward in the summer and Ratcliffe saw on Sunday exactly why Ineos needed to invest in another signing for the Red Devils.