Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe was absent from Stamford Bridge as Michael Carrick's team fell to Chelsea. Nonetheless, supporters were determined to voice their opinions about the British billionaire, a demonstration that might encourage Ratcliffe to consider his departure.

While Carrick again garnered some support from the travelling contingent, and even the players stood united with fans after the final whistle, United's leadership became the target of discontented chanting.

Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrarda will have experienced the pressure in west London, the Glazers attracted their usual chants and Ratcliffe's involvement continues to face mounting criticism. The INEOS chief has been challenged over his handling of supporters and personnel, but now United's performance on the pitch have been a target of criticism.

Chants of "You can stick your new stadium up your a***", "Sell United and f*** off home", "Just like the Glazers, Jim Ratcliffe's a c***," rang out at full-time.

Whether this proves sufficient to unsettle Ratcliffe remains unclear. But during an interview last year, the 74-year-old acknowledged he had no wish to be regarded like the Glazer family are.

"Eventually, if it reached the extent that the Glazer family have been abused, then I'd have to say, 'Look, enough's enough guys, let somebody else do this.'" he said. "They can't really come to a match

"At the moment, I don't have security, I don't have to walk around like that. But it would defeat the object, wouldn't it? You couldn't tolerate it at that level. It just wouldn't be fun."

A nine-match winless run has intensified the backlash, and with matches against an unbeaten Roma outfit in Serie A and Aston Villa on the horizon, matters are hardly certain to improve swiftly. Even if United opt to sack Carrick during the international break, Liverpool will be next up when they return.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe says “it’s time for change”

Discontent has mounted beyond the terraces regarding Ratcliffe's leadership as well. The Glazers are understood to be dissatisfied with the club's trajectory under their co-owner.

A source with links to the family informed the Daily Mail that 'it's a travesty and not what they expected or were promised,' before noting that 'they have never run the club this way'.

Meanwhile, ESPN revealed that the Glazers believe Ratcliffe 'couldn't have masterminded a worse situation'.

A source characterised his 'downgrading in all departments' at Old Trafford as 'the opposite of what he said his strategy is'.

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