Sir Jim Ratcliffe, co-owner of Manchester United, has made a positive start to his tenure. He has already outlined his ambitious plans for a new stadium and expressed his desire to surpass local rivals Manchester City. Ratcliffe has also taken the time to meet with fan groups and has made strategic appointments to key positions within the club. This has generated goodwill and allowed him to make unpopular decisions without the backlash that would have come with similar moves by the Glazer family.
However, as one fan representative pointed out, the real test for Ratcliffe will come when he has to make significant decisions. That moment is now approaching, as United face the FA Cup final against City. A defeat in this match would mean that United will miss out on European football for only the second time since 1981-82. Their eighth-place finish in the Premier League, their lowest since 1989-90, highlights the need for change and improvement.
The upcoming decision on the future of manager Erik ten Hag is crucial. A couple of months ago, there was a strong inclination to keep faith in Ten Hag. The focus was on establishing the right support structures within the club to enable any manager to deliver consistent results. Ten Hag had shown his capabilities during his time at Ajax and his first season at United. There was also hope of Champions League qualification, with UEFA set to allocate additional places for English clubs.
However, recent performances have raised doubts. United ended their league campaign with back-to-back victories, but there were still concerns about their overall performance. They struggled to hold on to winning positions, were outplayed in certain matches, and failed to beat lower-ranked teams. Even their 3-0 lead in the FA Cup semi-final against Coventry was nearly squandered.
Ten Hag has attributed some of these struggles to a high number of injuries, which have disrupted his plans. Key players like Luke Shaw, Anthony Martial, and Mason Mount have missed significant portions of the season. While injuries are certainly a valid factor, some argue that Ten Hag should have anticipated and prepared for this likelihood, given the injury records of certain players.
There have been some positive developments under Ten Hag, such as the emergence of young talents like Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho. However, fatigue has become evident in their performances, suggesting that they could have benefited from some rest.
The FA Cup final against City will be a crucial moment for Ten Hag, but there is uncertainty about what comes next. Alternative manager options have been suggested, but no clear decision has been made yet. Ten Hag has expressed his plans for next season, but ultimately, Ratcliffe will have to decide whether those plans will come to fruition.
This upcoming decision will be a significant test for Ratcliffe as an owner. While he has had a smooth start, navigating the challenges of managing a football club is a different matter altogether. The pressure is on to lead United back to their former glory and challenge for top honors once again. The next phase of Ratcliffe’s ownership will undoubtedly be more challenging, but it remains to be seen how he will handle it.