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Despite spending £600 million on new players under ten Hag, Manchester United's squad has been deemed not good enough
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe subtly expressed his disappointment with the club's first-team squad, suggesting that the team lacks the necessary quality to succeed in the Premier League.
His remarks, made last month during an appearance in Barcelona, revealed his frustration with the Red Devils' recent struggles and shed light on potential changes under new leadership.
Ratcliffe gives scathing assessment of Manchester United squad
Ratcliffe, also the chairman of INEOS, explained in an interview last month in Barcelona, that success in sports, from sailing to football, hinges on having the right tools, or, in football’s case, the right players.
“You can't win the America's Cup, unless you arrive at the America's Cup with a boat that could win the America's Cup,' Ratcliffe, before adding, 'Same in Formula One. I mean you put Max Verstappen in a Williams, he's not going to win a Formula One championship.
“And with football it's the same with the squad in a way. That's the parallel for me. You can't win anything in football if your squad isn't good enough to win something. The quality of the squad is a bit like the speed of the boat.”
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Ratcliffe's comments come amid a period of upheaval at Old Trafford, with former manager Erik ten Hag recently dismissed and Sporting Lisbon's Ruben Amorim appointed to take over on November 11.
Interim manager Van Nistelrooy to make way for Amorim
With Amorim set to join in November, Manchester United will be led by interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy for two more games.
The Dutchman’s tenure has seen mixed results, with United managing a 1-1 draw against Chelsea as well as a 5-2 win in the EFL Cup against Leicester City on his debut.
Manchester United are currently 13th in the Premier League with just 12 points from 10 games despite investing around £600 million on transfers during Ten Hag’s era, including £200 million already under Ratcliffe, leaving them with a squad that the INEOS boss does not rate highly.
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Amorim, arriving from Sporting Lisbon, will have a difficult task ahead, despite significant investment, as Manchester United’s lack of depth and consistency has continued to hamper their performance across various managers.
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