Lineker says Glazers ‘found someone worse’ to blame for Manchester United chaos

Gary Lineker has launched a strong criticism of Manchester United’s leadership, claiming the club’s problems begin at the top and holding Jim Ratcliffe responsible for the situation.

The former England striker’s comments come after United’s difficult start to the Premier League season under manager Michael Carrick. They are 12th in the table after five matches, with five points from one win, two draws and two defeats.

The results have fallen well short of expectations, increasing the pressure on Carrick and raising questions about his future at Old Trafford. Lineker believes the club’s difficulties are rooted in its management, particularly Ratcliffe’s influence since acquiring a minority stake in United from the Glazer family in 2024 and taking responsibility for sporting matters.

Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Lineker said, as reported by German newspaper Bild: “When I look at Manchester United, I see problems coming from the top. I have to congratulate the Glazer family because they found someone worse than them to take the blame and brought him to the top to take all the criticism. That is Jim Ratcliffe.”

He added: “I don’t see him as a particularly popular person, and the way the club is being run at the moment makes the whole situation extremely chaotic. So I take my hat off to the Glazer family for managing to shift all the blame away from themselves.”

Ratcliffe has faced criticism from Manchester United supporters over several decisions since becoming involved in the club’s ownership structure. Among them was a reduction in the workforce, with about 450 jobs having been removed by the end of 2025 under his supervision.

Ticket prices have also increased during his time overseeing the club’s sporting operations, adding to the dissatisfaction among fans.

A further issue has emerged in United’s academy. Reports recently suggested that 15-year-old prospect Jay Gabriel wants to leave the club because he believes Manchester United can no longer compete with Europe’s leading clubs for talented young players.

Lineker’s remarks come as Carrick faces mounting scrutiny because of United’s start to the Premier League campaign. Ratcliffe remains one of the key figures responsible for sporting decisions at the club, following his arrival in the ownership structure in 2024.

The criticism places the club’s leadership and its direction under renewed focus, with United’s early-season results adding to concerns over both the team’s performances and the decisions being made away from the pitch.