Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment in Manchester United was intended to mark the start of a new era for fallen giants, but there were a few signs that torture will end at any time soon.
There has been a liturgy for both the meeting room and on the pitch since the 72 -year -old became a minority shareholder at Old Trafford on February 20, 2024, taking over the athletic control, with much of the hope and goodwill surrounded by his arrival since then evaporated. .
The silver investments were few and far away during the first year as a co -owner and promises to be hectic moments ahead, as the Red Devils are desperately trying to get out of the crisis.
Here are the most remarkable moments of United since Ratcliffe arrived at Old Trafford.
Ratcliffe showed no interest in placing the masses with the first round of cutting the cost early in his reign. The founder of Petrochemicals Ineos quickly set out to reduce the wage account and made about 250 employees unnecessary after taking over daily businesses. He had also insisted that work from home culture had to be over and every employee should be 100% office.
Ratcliffe later withdrew the legendary former director Sir Alex Ferguson as a paid ambassador, canceled the Christmas party of the Club staff and refused to travel to last season’s FA Cup final to other bids. Ticket prices have also increased, with concession rates for all the remaining tickets that have been removed, as fans feel the impact of a ruthless approach.
The argument behind such decisions was that the money saved could be reinvested in the game team, with the club suggesting that the previous layoff match would save £ 45m a year. It was no surprise that it was not a popular decision within the club or among supporters.
But redundancies may not be there. Recent reports have shown that Ratcliffe could be up to 200 other employees unnecessary to prevent the club from “Going”.
If these cuts are made, the greatest pressure and the reaction will be justified in the way of Ratcliffe – especially considering that there is still a sea with lower performance players earning millions per season.
United There was an extremely difficult 2023/24 campaign with massive uncertainty from the stadium and huge inconsistencies in it. However, there was a brief light at the end of the tunnel, as the Red Devils won local Manchester City opponents to win an unexpected FA Cup crown.
Erik Ten Hag’s side had led their fate on the way to the showpiece event, especially in the semifinals, when they were delivered to a three goals in the Coventry City Championship before the sanctions were scraped. But it would be the side that is celebrating in the capital comes to the end of May, as two graduates of their academy shot to shock Glory.
The goals by Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo helped United to conquer their wild enemies and see a late match, with the rights of boasting and the oldest world football cup returning to Old Trafford.
The eyebrows were raised when United decided to remove Erik Ten Hag during the summer, with widespread reports suggesting that the success of the FA Cup would not be enough to keep the non -popular Dutchman in a job. He even later handed a new contract as a demonstration of faith.
It may not be obstructed by prospects, Ratcliffe decided not to pull the trigger at what the ideal time to change the tools appeared, with former Ajax manager still living in the United Dugout on the first day of the Premier League season. In mid -August.
Another divisive decision attributed more frustration of supporters, with Ten Hag’s side making an overwhelming start of the season. Eventually enough was enough and Gillotina fell with United who was sitting 14th on the Premier League table and relegated to Europe.
The removal of ten Hag and the departure of his personal backroom Cost Red Devils £ 10.4m And the subsequent acquisition of Ruben Amorim and his team saw another £ 10.6 million abandoning the club’s accounts, so as not to mention the money that is wasting for the recruitment and launch of sports director Dan Ashworth, rubbing salt in the wound when 250 ordinary people had just been unemployed.
While he was greeted as a smart call at the time, Amorim has not proven the United Savior – or even the captain capable of stabilizing the ship. The results and performance have receded by the signed Portugal and is already called upon to endanger its principles and the philosophy of football in pursuit of stability.
United has jumped many wreaths to award Dan Ashworth from Newcastle United last year. After being placed on Magpies’ gardening license in February, he finally started working as the new Red Devils athletic director in July and quickly set the summer supervision.
However, the few months of businesses were largely followed, with the Matthijs de Ligt, Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro and Manuel Ugarte reaching for big money. No one has hit the ground in Old Trafford, one of the reasons behind Ashworth’s removal just five months after his original appointment. He also favored Gareth Southgate on the hunt for Ten Hag’s successor and is believed to have fallen with Ratcliffe on what was a short and ultimately unsuccessful spell at Old Trafford.
The decision is understandably secret, and it has been revealed since then that it costs a United £ 4.1 million to remove Ashworth from its position. The position of the club’s athletic director is still empty and remains uncertain about who, if one, will really replace the 53 -year -old.
There have been many moments described as the “new low” for United, who failed to deliver this season – and the last 12 years. However, lately The sluggish 1-0 of Sunday’s defeat In injuries, Tottenham Hotspur fighters saw Red Devils collapse in the 15th.
The Amorim side did not have quality and power in northern London, as they succumbed to a ninth loss in 21 games under their Portuguese coach. The result has left United Closer to the Premier League relegation zone than the first six and eight points, even even medium obscene.
Injuries begin to accumulate as well And things seem unlikely to improve in the coming weeks and months, with the glory of the FA Cup or the Europa League that can save a truly sad campaign.
