Manchester United's minority owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has thrown his weight behind the club's head coach, Ruben Amorim, stating that he wants to give him three years to prove himself. Amorim, who took over as the Red Devils' head coach last November, has faced intense scrutiny due to the team's underwhelming performances.
Despite being in the job for less than a year, Amorim has struggled to replicate the success of his predecessors, with the team failing to win back-to-back Premier League matches during his tenure. The club's 15th-place finish last season was their worst top-flight performance since 1974, and their early exit from the Carabao Cup at the hands of League Two side Grimsby Town in August raised further concerns.
However, Ratcliffe believes that Amorim is a "good guy" who needs time to demonstrate his coaching prowess. In an interview with The Business podcast, produced by The Times and The Sunday Times, Ratcliffe emphasized the importance of patience, stating, "Ruben needs to demonstrate he is a great coach over three years."
Ratcliffe drew parallels with Arsenal's Mikel Arteta, who faced a tough start to his managerial career but eventually turned things around. "You also look at Arteta at Arsenal. He had a miserable time over the first couple of years," Ratcliffe said. "We have to be patient. We have a long-term plan. It isn't a light switch."
The INEOS boss also addressed concerns about potential interference from the Glazer family, who still hold overall control of the club. Ratcliffe dismissed the idea that the Glazers would instruct him to sack Amorim, saying, "It's not going to happen." He added that the Glazers were happy to let him take charge of football operations, stating, "They get a bad rap... but they are really nice people and they are really passionate about the club."
Ratcliffe has faced criticism for his cost-cutting measures, which resulted in around 450 job losses and the removal of staff perks. However, he defended his decisions, stating that the club had become "bloated" and that the changes were necessary to put Manchester United on a "sustainable, healthy footing."
Despite the short-term challenges, Ratcliffe remains optimistic about the club's long-term prospects. "We're not seeing all the benefits of the restructuring that we've done in this set of (financial) results," he said. "Those numbers will get better. Manchester United will become the most profitable football club in the world, in my view, and from that will stem, I hope, a long-term, sustainable, high-level of football."
The Manchester United squad has also rallied behind Amorim, with reports suggesting that the players are behind their coach and his philosophy. As the club looks to turn its fortunes around, Ratcliffe's vote of confidence in Amorim will be seen as a crucial factor in determining the coach's future at Old Trafford.
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