On Monday we were treated to a new interview by current part-owner of Manchester United, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who was grilled on some of his decisions during his first year of ownership by former player Gary Neville for Sky Sports’ Overlap podcast.
The interview takes place amidst a turbulent season for the Red Devils, one marked by unwanted records, mass layoffs, ticket price hikes, and, of course, the now-infamous removal of free lunches.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s interview has shed light on the dire state Manchester United found itself in before his arrival. He didn’t shy away from criticising the club’s past decisions, particularly the signings of high-profile players who he described as “not good enough” and “overpaid.”
He didn’t shy away from criticising the club’s past decisions, particularly the signings of high-profile players who he described as “not good enough” and “overpaid.”
Ratcliffe emphasised the need for a complete overhaul, both in terms of squad quality and financial management, admitting that the club was on track to run out of money by the end of 2025 without drastic changes.
Ratcliffe also defended his decision to back new head coach Ruben Amorim despite a lacklustre league campaign, praising his commitment to implementing his style and getting the most out of the players he has at his disposal.
He acknowledged past mistakes, including the delayed dismissal of former manager Erik ten Hag and the surprise departure of sporting director Dan Ashworth, but remained optimistic about the club’s future. 'We’ve made errors, but I believe we can win the Premier League in three years', Ratcliffe stated, outlining his ambitious timeline for success.
The interview has given fans and rivals a chance to understand the rationale behind some of the headlines that have been hitting the timeline over the past 6 months. Sir Jim makes it clear: for the last 10 years the club has been poorly run, both financially and on the pitch.
Since the interview, the club have released concept images of their proposed new 100,000-seater stadium, a triple-spired spectacle set to be the centre point of a regenerated Old Trafford. Whether Ratcliffe’s dreams can become a reality is yet to be seen, but Manchester United fans can take one positive from all of this: it can’t get much worse.