Manchester United are enduring one of their most challenging seasons in recent history, both in terms of results and finances. Following recent protests, United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe broke his silence, acknowledging two major mistakes and discussing the future of head coach Ruben Amorim.
INEOS, led by Ratcliffe, acquired a 27% stake in Manchester United in December 2023, becoming a minority shareholder and assuming control of the club’s sporting operations alongside the Glazer family. Reflecting on his short tenure at the club, Ratcliffe admitted that both Erik ten Hag and Dan Ashworth were decisions he now considers mistakes.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Ratcliffe addressed Ten Hag’s situation, explaining the circumstances that led to his departure just three months after the Dutchman signed a contract extension: “The Erik thing is slightly mitigating. There was quite a lot of debate about that time. He had just won a Cup final. The fans were clearly of the view that we’d like to stick with him and all that sort of stuff.”
Regarding Dan Ashworth, Ratcliffe cited a “lack of chemistry” as the primary reason for the former sporting director’s dismissal. “They were both mistakes. I don’t think we can say much more than that. It’s a journey and there’s a lot of decisions that we have to make over the course of the journey and we’re not going to get them all right.”
In the midst of financial uncertainty, Manchester United’s leadership made bold decisions to stabilize the club, including appointing Ruben Amorim. However, Ratcliffe’s admitted mistakes proved costly, with Ten Hag and Ashworth’s departures costing the club a combined £17.5 million. Additionally, securing Amorim’s services — including his coaching staff — came at a further £11 million, adding to the club’s financial burden.
Ratcliffe backs Amorim despite difficult start
Despite Manchester United’s struggles — including sitting 14th in the Premier League (their worst position in the competition’s history) and being knocked out of the FA Cup — Ratcliffe stood firmly behind Amorim, expressing confidence in the Portuguese manager.
“Frankly, with the squad that he’s had available and the fact he came in mid-season, I think he’s done a great job.” he shockingly admitted. “Everybody expects miracles overnight. It’s not real life in my view. I thought, a really impressive performance (against Arsenal). They could not have worked harder. They couldn’t have been more committed,” he added.
Ratcliffe also acknowledged the injury crisis that has plagued the squad, highlighting the limited options available to Amorim: “Half the squad’s missing for Ruben. If you look at the top eight players in terms of salaries in Manchester United, 50 per cent of those are not available to Ruben… If you look at our top eight, you’ve got Mason Mount, and Luke Shaw who’ve been injured. Rashford’s gone and Sancho too. Four of our top eight players in terms of salaries.”
Ratcliffe concluded by praising Amorim’s philosophy and leadership, underlining his strong relationship with the Portuguese manager. “I do, honestly. I really, really like Ruben. I’ve met him before the game as well, but we sat down and we had half an hour with him after the game. He’s a very thoughtful guy,” he said.