As the 2025 football season unfolds, several top-tier clubs find themselves in crisis, struggling to meet expectations and showing worrying signs of decline. While some of the biggest clubs are maintaining their dominance, others have been plagued by poor form, resulting in disappointing results across domestic and European competitions. From managerial instability to underperforming star players and financial difficulties, these clubs are battling various challenges that threaten their place at the pinnacle of football. This article delves into some of the clubs with the worst forms in 2025, highlighting their struggles and examining what has gone wrong for these once-great teams.
1. Manchester United: Stuck in a Rebuild
Manchester United, once the epitome of English football success, has found itself in another cycle of rebuilding. The 2025 season has been incredibly frustrating for the Red Devils, as they continue to struggle under Erik ten Hag’s management. While the club boasts a squad brimming with talent, they have been unable to find any consistency or rhythm in their performances.
After a promising first season under Ten Hag, Manchester United’s form has hit a significant slump. Their results in the Premier League have been erratic, with the team unable to string together consecutive victories. Despite boasting a potent attacking lineup with Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, and Jadon Sancho, Manchester United has struggled to break down teams, particularly against lower-ranked sides.
Defensively, the club’s issues are even more concerning. Harry Maguire has come under intense scrutiny for his poor form, while Rafael Varane’s injuries have left the defense vulnerable. Ten Hag’s tactical approach, though occasionally effective, has often been too rigid and predictable, leading to frustration among players and fans alike.
The board’s heavy investment in players like Casemiro and Antony has not yielded the expected results, and the pressure is mounting on Ten Hag to deliver. With Manchester United currently fighting for a top-four finish and struggling in the Champions League, the club’s ambitions for silverware seem increasingly distant. Once a dominant force in English and European football, the Red Devils are at a crossroads, and unless drastic changes are made, their path back to the top seems uncertain.
2. Arsenal: A Shocking Regression
Mikel Arteta’s rise to prominence at Arsenal seemed like a revival of the club’s former glory, as they finished in the top four and even challenged for the Premier League title. However, by 2025, Arsenal has seen their progress stall, and the team has fallen into an alarming slump.
Despite possessing a talented squad featuring young stars such as Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, Arsenal has struggled to perform consistently in the Premier League. The Gunners have failed to win crucial matches against lower-ranked opposition, and their defense, once a source of strength, has become increasingly porous. Arteta’s tactical approach, while innovative, has not been able to yield the desired results, and questions are now being raised about his future at the club.
Arsenal’s early exit from the Europa League in 2025 further exposed the team’s lack of progression, and their once-promising resurgence now seems like a distant memory. Fans and analysts alike are growing increasingly impatient with the current project, and unless Arteta can reverse the current downward trajectory, Arsenal may find themselves slipping further behind the top teams in both England and Europe.
3. Manchester United: Stuck in a Rebuild
Manchester United’s long-awaited return to the top of English football seems to have stalled in 2025, as the club continues to struggle under the management of Erik ten Hag. Despite having one of the most valuable squads in Europe, United’s performances have been underwhelming, and their form in the Premier League has been alarmingly inconsistent.
After an initial surge of optimism under Ten Hag, Manchester United now finds itself stuck in a cycle of mediocrity. Their inability to secure wins against mid-table and relegation-threatened sides has prevented them from challenging for the title, and they are once again fighting for a place in the top four. United’s defense, once a stronghold, has been fragile, with individual errors costing them points in key matches.
In attack, the Red Devils have been lacking creativity and consistency. Despite the presence of talented players like Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford, their offensive play has often been disjointed and uninspired. The pressure on Ten Hag is growing, and with increasing reports of tension between him and key players, Manchester United’s rebuilding process appears to be in danger of falling apart.
4. Juventus: A Rebuilding Process Gone Wrong
Juventus, the dominant force of Italian football for years, is now mired in a deep slump. In 2025, they find themselves far from the top of Serie A, battling to secure a place in European competition next season. The club embarked on a major rebuild following a disappointing 2024 season, but the results have been far from what was expected.
Manager Massimiliano Allegri, who has faced criticism in recent years, has struggled to turn the team around. Juventus has failed to dominate the games they should be winning, and their defensive stability, once their hallmark, has completely unraveled. While there have been flashes of brilliance, the team has lacked consistency, leaving them vulnerable in both domestic and international competitions.
The club’s failure to bring in a world-class signing to complement their rebuilding efforts has left them in a difficult position. Key players like Dusan Vlahovic and Federico Chiesa have underperformed, further exacerbating Juventus’ struggles. Without significant improvement, Juventus risks falling behind the likes of Inter Milan and AC Milan in Serie A and becoming irrelevant on the European stage.
5. Bayern Munich: Stagnation in Bavaria
Bayern Munich, the perennial powerhouse of German football, has also found themselves grappling with stagnation in 2025. While they remain dominant in the Bundesliga, their form in the Champions League and other competitions has been far from convincing. The Bavarians’ attacking dominance has been replaced by predictability, and their defense has shown signs of weakness.
Manager Julian Nagelsmann, once hailed as one of the brightest tactical minds in football, has struggled to get the best out of his team. Despite having a star-studded squad with the likes of Leroy Sané, Joshua Kimmich, and Thomas Müller, Bayern’s attacking play has become stale, and they have been unable to replicate their previous European success.
Bayern’s aging squad, particularly in defense, has been a key issue, and their inability to refresh the squad with younger, more dynamic players has led to a dip in their overall performance. While they are still capable of winning the Bundesliga, Bayern’s dominance in Europe has been called into question, and their future as one of the continent’s elite clubs is now uncertain.
6. Chelsea: Unfulfilled Potential
Chelsea’s tumultuous 2025 campaign is one of the most surprising stories of underachievement in European football. Despite spending heavily in the transfer market and assembling a squad filled with world-class talent, the Blues have failed to live up to expectations under manager Mauricio Pochettino. Chelsea’s form in the Premier League has been dismal, and they find themselves struggling to secure a top-half finish.
The team’s inability to find consistency has been a major issue, with injuries, tactical confusion, and a lack of cohesion in attack all contributing to their poor performances. Despite having a plethora of attacking options, Chelsea has struggled to break down opponents and has been plagued by individual errors. The club’s star signings, including Enzo Fernandez and Mykhailo Mudryk, have not delivered the expected impact, and Pochettino has been unable to unlock the potential of his squad.
With the pressure mounting on Pochettino, Chelsea’s poor form has left fans and pundits alike questioning the direction of the club. The club’s massive financial outlay on new players has yet to bear fruit, and unless immediate changes are made, Chelsea risks falling further behind their Premier League rivals.
7. Paris Saint-Germain: A Domestic Giant in Crisis
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has been a dominant force in Ligue 1 for nearly a decade, but their form in 2025 has been disastrous, both domestically and in Europe. Despite possessing a star-studded squad, including the likes of Kylian Mbappé, Neymar, and Lionel Messi, PSG has struggled to meet expectations and has been underperforming in the Champions League.
Manager Christophe Galtier has faced criticism for failing to impose a tactical system that allows the team to play cohesively. While PSG has continued to dominate domestically, their inability to perform on the international stage has been a significant blow to the club’s ambitions. Internal conflicts between the star players, combined with a lack of balance in the squad, has created an atmosphere of uncertainty around the club.
Despite their financial might and vast resources, PSG has been unable to secure the one trophy that matters most to the club: the Champions League. As the team continues to falter in the competition, their status as one of Europe’s elite clubs is increasingly in doubt. The pressure is mounting on the management to deliver results, and without major changes, PSG risks being stuck in a cycle of underachievement.
Conclusion
The 2025 football season has been a tough one for several of Europe’s most storied clubs. Teams like Barcelona, Arsenal, Manchester United, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, and PSG have all faced significant struggles, whether due to managerial instability, tactical issues, underperforming star players, or financial constraints. While some clubs may recover and return to form, others are facing a more prolonged period of rebuilding, and their chances of returning to the pinnacle of football remain uncertain.
The road ahead will not be easy for these clubs, and their future success depends on their ability to address their shortcomings. Fans and pundits alike will be watching closely to see how these once-great teams attempt to rediscover their winning ways. Whether through managerial changes, strategic reinvestment, or tactical adjustments, the next few seasons will be crucial in determining the future of these struggling giants.
