Manchester United in Crisis: Zirkzee, Dorgu, and Dalot as Symbols of INEOS Failure?

Manchester United suffered another poor result in the 2026/27 Premier League. A defeat to cross-town rivals Manchester City in the fourth matchweek left the Red Devils with just one win and languishing in 13th place. Pressure immediately fell on manager Michael Carrick, who is seen as unable to lift the team's performance after a third-place finish last season.

This crisis is not just about results, but about player quality that is judged far below the standard of an elite club. Two full-backs, Patrick Dorgu and Diogo Dalot, came under the spotlight after disappointing displays in the Manchester derby. Dorgu, filling in for the injured Luke Shaw, struggled against the opposition's pressure. He was dribbled past twice by City players and completed only 25% of his crosses. Meanwhile Dalot, on the right, won just one tackle and lost 53% of his ground duels, and created no meaningful chances.

However, the biggest spotlight fell on striker Joshua Zirkzee. The Netherlands international only got his first Premier League minutes of the season when he came on as a substitute in the Manchester derby. In seven minutes, he touched the ball just nine times, lost possession three times, and did not win a single duel. More worryingly, Zirkzee has now gone 15 competitive matches without scoring. Carrick prefers Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo as false nines over Zirkzee, a clear indication that the striker is not part of the main plans.

"The quality of the senior squad is still far from enough to compete for the title," read a sharp assessment of United's performance this season.

This failure cannot be separated from INEOS's transfer policy since taking over football operations. They are seen as having failed to bring in players who genuinely improve the team's quality. Dorgu, Dalot, and Zirkzee are clear examples of how poor recruitment leaves big holes in almost every line. If United want to challenge for titles again, the three are said to need to be sold soon and replaced with top-class players.

For fans in Indonesia, this situation is a reminder that even a club as big as Manchester United can get stuck in a cycle of mediocrity if its sporting management is incompetent. The Premier League is indeed the most popular league in the country, and the Red Devils' fluctuating performances are always a hot topic on social media and in fan communities. Many hope INEOS will quickly get their house in order, especially ahead of the next transfer window.

Looking ahead, the question is: will Carrick survive if poor results continue, and how much money is INEOS prepared to spend to overhaul the squad? Without radical change, the dream of ending a league title drought that has lasted for years will drift further from reality.