Structure before signings: Ratcliffe's formula for success at Man Utd
Sir Jim Ratcliffe: Completed deal to buy 27.7% stake in Manchester United in February
Written by Training Ground Guru — March 20, 2024
SIR JIM RATCLIFFE has outlined his formula for success at Manchester United, saying it’s not about “spending money on a couple of great players” but getting “the right people in the right boxes doing the right things in an elite environment.”
The INEOS Chairman has taken control of football operations at United after buying a 27.7% stake in the club. Speaking on the Geraint Thomas Cycling Club Podcast, the 71-year-old was asked how he intended to turn the club’s fortunes around.
“The solution isn’t spending a lot of money on a couple of great players - they’ve done that,” he said.
“You have to believe with Manchester United that if we get all the details right, if we get all the right people in the right boxes doing the right things with that sporting elite environment… that if you get all those things right the results will drop out the bottom.
“The first thing we need to do is get the right people in the right boxes who are managing and organising the club. And make sure we get recruitment right - such a vital part of running a football club today is getting recruitment right.
“It’s where you start - you need the right organisation and structure. You have the coach who reports to the Sporting Director and they report to the Chief Executive.”
Ratcliffe then outlined what an elite environment looks like.
“Where it’s driven, it’s intense, you’ve got real competitive atmosphere, but underneath all that it’s supportive,” he said.” You’ve got people who are competitive and intense but at the end of the day they’re good people and you feel comfortable going there every day, because they’re there five, six days a week for virtually 45 weeks a year.
“All those things are not right at Manchester United today, as we’ve said fairly clearly. It’s not a light switch, it’s a much longer road to travel, because there are so many aspects of that club and that game you ned to get right.”
Ratcliffe said Manchester City are currently the leaders in terms of performance both on and off the pitch.
“Unquestionably, City are on the top of the pile,” he said. “Liverpool are up there as well. Its not United today, that’s for sure. Manchester City, the whole way through, if you look at Ferran (Soriano), Txiki (Begiristain), Pep (Guardiola), Omar (Berrada), obviously he has come across to us.”
The man who will ultimately be responsible for turning around United’s football performance is INEOS Director of Sport Sir Dave Brailsford, who Ratcliffe said he speaks to on a “daily basis.”
He added: “He’s a details man, he’s so rigorous. We have a daily chat and it’s never a short chat with Dave! There are a group of us that are involved but the two people that are moist focused on it would be Dave and myself. Omar will be a big part of the trio when he settles in.”
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