Sir Jim Ratcliffe gives cryptic reply when asked on Ten Hag’s future after another stuttering result against Porto.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has added to the mystery with regards to Man United manager Erik Ten Hag.
When asked about the current state of the club and on the future of the manager, Ratcliffe took an evasive route by saying it is “Not my call”.
Ratcliffe was speaking in Barcelona, where his team Ineos Brittania won the Louis Vuitton Cup.
“I don’t want to answer that question,” said the billionaire, who bought 27.7% of the club last December. “I like Erik, I think he’s a very good coach but at the end of the day it’s not my call.”
“It’s the management team that’s running Manchester United that have to decide how we best run the team in many different respects,” said Ratcliffe. “But that team that’s running Manchester United has only been together since June or July. They weren’t there in January, February, March or April – Omar, Dan – they only arrived in July.”
“They’ve only been there … you can count it in weeks almost. They’ve not been there a long time, so they need to take stock and make some sensible decisions. Our objective is very clear – we want to take Manchester United back to where it should be. And it’s not there yet, obviously – that’s very clear.”
Ten Hag has seen the pressure mount over him constantly after a stuttering run of results. A 1-1 draw over Twente was followed by a shambolic 3-0 home loss to Spurs. A Harry Maguire goal was the only factor saving Ten Hag after his side let another 2-0 lead slip away.
In Portugal, Ten Hag had stayed typically defiant. “This team has the belief that they don’t give up,” he said. “So they have that range of positive mentality and have a strong mentality. But in some other parts, they have to step up.”