The Premier League’s Dominance and Manchester United’s Demise
This narrative is not just about the decline of Manchester United, but a broader story about the transformative power of the Premier League. While the Red Devils have struggled before, the difference this time is the sheer quality of the teams that have left them embarrassed.
United’s downfall is primarily self-inflicted, with mismanagement by the club’s owners and executives, coupled with a lack of quality and fitness among the players. However, the Premier League’s meteoric rise has also played a significant role in their woes.
The Premier League’s Ascent to Dominance
Over the past decade, the Premier League has experienced a remarkable revenue boom, with domestic TV deals skyrocketing from £1.8 billion in 2012-13 to £5.1 billion starting in 2016-17. This influx of wealth has allowed the so-called “mid-table clubs” to outspend many Champions League clubs across Europe, narrowing the gap between them and the former “Big Six” of the Premier League.
The Premier League now boasts 14 of the world’s top 30 clubs in terms of revenue, according to Deloitte’s Football Money League, a stark contrast to the 8 teams featured in 2012-13. Clubs like West Ham, Aston Villa, Brighton, Crystal Palace, Everton, Fulham, and Wolves have used their newfound riches to attract a higher caliber of players, once the domain of the traditional European powerhouses.
The stark contrasts are evident across the league. In 2012-13, Aston Villa’s backline consisted of players like Matt Lowton, Ciaran Clark, Nathan Baker, and Joe Bennett, with Ashley Westwood in midfield. Now, they field a defense of Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres, and Lucas Digne, with Argentina’s World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez behind them.
Similarly, West Ham’s transformation is striking. In the last year of the previous TV deal, they were relying on the likes of Kevin Nolan, Mark Noble, Matt Jarvis, Matthew Taylor, Carlton Cole, and Andy Carroll. Today, they field players signed from PSG, Ajax, and Borussia Dortmund, as well as a Brazilian national team regular.
The Premier League’s financial power has also lured a diverse collection of world-class coaches to England, further enhancing the league’s competitiveness and global appeal.
As a result, the chasm between the former “Big Six” and the rest of the league has narrowed significantly. While these top clubs still boast considerable advantages, their margin for error has diminished, as evidenced by Manchester United’s dramatic fall from a clear top-20 team in the world to number 35 in Opta’s global power rankings, with 12 Premier League clubs now ranked above them.
It’s impossible to definitively determine how far United has fallen since Sir Alex Ferguson’s final season in 2012-13, or to compare their performance under different managers. However, one thing is clear: the Premier League’s meteoric rise has undoubtedly played a significant role in the once-dominant Red Devils’ downward spiral.
In conclusion, the Premier League’s financial power and the corresponding rise in the quality of teams throughout the league have created a new landscape where even the most storied clubs like Manchester United are struggling to maintain their dominance. This story serves as a testament to the transformative impact of the Premier League’s sustained excellence and its ability to elevate the competition across the entire league.
