Erik ten Hag warns Jim Ratcliffe to back off, saying ‘don’t interrupt the process’ for fear of ending up like Chelsea
ERIK TEN HAG has warned Sir Jim Ratcliffe NOT to interrupt his rebuild of Manchester United.
Part-owner Ratcliffe is unconvinced Ten Hag is the right man to lead the Red Devils into a new era.
Ahead of the Premier League clash at Chelsea, United’s boss was asked if the Blues’ struggles under chairman Todd Boehly should serve as a warning over making big changes too soon.
Ten Hag, whose side are currently sixth, said: “Don’t interrupt this process. We have good young players coming through.
“They are developing very well in their progress. We are in a good way, a good direction and need to make the next steps.
“You need to follow the process.”
Since taking charge of Chelsea in May 2022, Boehly has splashed out over £1billion on players and Mauricio Pochettino is his fourth manager.
The Blues are mid-table in the Premier League and fans have turned on the owner by chanting “Boehly, Boehly, you’re a c***”. Supporters have also blasted their manager by singing “f*** off Mauricio”.
United fans have long despised the club’s owners, the Glazer family, who are on their fifth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson retired 11 years ago.
The hope is that Ineos chief Ratcliffe taking charge of football operations will change things.
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Man Utd vs Chelsea - so what? They’re sinking towards irrelevance, says Dave Kidd
By Dave Kidd
MANCHESTER UNITED and Chelsea were the two dominant forces in English football when Sir Alex Ferguson and Roman Abramovich were in their pomp.
But when they meet at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night it will be a ‘so what?’ match between dysfunctional clubs lurching in and out of crisis.
On Saturday, Erik ten Hag’s United failed to build on an FA Cup win over Liverpool and were poor in the 1-1 draw at Brentford.
And Mauricio Pochettino put out a Blues side that failed to beat ten-man Burnley at home.
Will either be in a job next season? And will it make much difference?
United have only won a League Cup in seven years and Chelsea’s last domestic honour was the 2018 FA Cup.
Both clubs are sinking towards irrelevance.
Ten Hag’s position is far from certain despite him still having the backing of the majority of the Red Devils faithful.
But their patience is beginning to be tested with their Champions League hopes slipping away after Saturday’s woeful 1-1 draw at Brentford.