‘We’re not a brutal organisation, but…’ Sir Jim Ratcliffe drops biggest hint yet on Erik ten Hag’s Man Utd future
SIR JIM RATCLIFFE admitted “sometimes you have to make unpopular decisions” – in the biggest hint yet over the Erik ten Hag’s future.
Manchester United’s new minority owner was hardly positive when asked for his verdict on how the Dutchman has done at United, a day after confirming his £1.03billion investment.
When asked about Ten Hag’s future, Ratcliffe said: “I’m not going to comment on the job he’s done because that would be inappropriate.
“What is relevant to that question is that, if you look at the 11 years that have gone since David Gill and Sir Alex stepped down, there has been a whole series of coaches.
“Some of them were very good but none of them has been successful or survived for very long.
“You can’t blame all the coaches. The only conclusion is that the environment in which they were working didn’t work.
“Erik’s been in that environment and what we have to do is make sure that environment, the organisation, the people in the structure, are right.
“We have to do that bit, so I’m not really focused on the coach but on getting that bit right. It’s not for me to judge that.
“But we’ve made some quite difficult decisions in our time in business. We’ll just be logical about it, assess the facts and make a fair judgement.
“We’re not a brutal organisation really. But sometimes you do have to make decisions, that may not be popular.”
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Ratcliffe finally completed his purchase of a 27.7 per cent stake in the Red Devils on Tuesday.
His overhaul has already begun with former CEO Richard Arnold resigning from the board.
Meanwhile, ex-defender Gary Neville has been invited to help with plans to reinvigorate the area around Old Trafford.
Ratcliffe‘s latest comments on Ten Hag come after a veiled warning to the United boss that he delivered earlier on Wednesday.
The 71-year-old declared that “the right people” must “end up in the right positions” as he called for “world class” management.
Outlining his plan for the club, he told De Tijd: “We have to look at the organisation of the club, because it is not good at the moment.
“Take the head coach for example: he must report directly to the CEO. That is no longer possible in a modern football organisation.
“We have to ensure that the right people end up in the right positions. Every person in management must be world class.
“And then it is important to create a positive, supportive, friendly and high-quality environment. That culture was missing before.
“Only in such an environment can you get the best out of sportsmen. If successful, the results will follow automatically.
“That’s the plan and I believe in it.”
Ratcliffe has also vowed to knock Manchester City and Liverpool “off their perch” as he kicks off a new era at United.
He has even left the door open for Mason Greenwood to make a controversial return to the club, if he believes it is possible.
The winger is currently on loan at LaLiga side Getafe until the end of the season.
Ten Hag, whose contract currently expires in 2025, has come under pressure at times this season.
His future looked particularly in doubt following early exits from both the Champions League and Carabao Cup.
However, an unbeaten start to 2024 has seen United move to within five points of the top four.
The Red Devils are also into the last 16 of the FA Cup, where they will face Nottingham Forest next week.
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