Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has expressed his excitement about the club’s recent deal with INEOS, following chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s acquisition of a 25% stake in the club. The deal, valued at approximately £1.3 billion ($1.6bn), will also see Ratcliffe invest an additional $300 million into the club, with a focus on future investments into Old Trafford. Ratcliffe will also assume responsibility for football operations at United. Ten Hag believes that this new partnership will bring positive changes to the club and is eager to meet with Ratcliffe and the INEOS team in the near future.
Despite the promising prospects of the INEOS deal, Ten Hag has not yet had the opportunity to discuss the partnership with Ratcliffe and his team. The manager cited the condensed schedule as the reason for not engaging in discussions earlier. However, he expressed his interest in meeting with the new investors soon, stating, “They want to work with me, I want to work with them, we will have the conversations, the meetings. We will see.” This suggests that Ten Hag is open to collaborating with INEOS and is looking forward to exploring the possibilities that lie ahead.
In addition to Ratcliffe’s investment, sources have revealed that Sir Dave Brailsford and Jean-Claude Blanc will also join the football board. Brailsford, who was present at United’s recent victory over Aston Villa, will bring his expertise from the world of cycling to the club. This addition to the board signals an intention to strengthen the club’s overall strategy and operations.
While Ten Hag is excited about the future developments at Manchester United, he remains focused on the upcoming match against Nottingham Forest. Choosing to prioritize the game, he declined initial discussions with INEOS, stating, “In this moment I don’t want to have distractions.” Nevertheless, the manager is hopeful that there will be ample time for fruitful discussions in the days and weeks to come, enabling him to fully understand and embrace the new partnership.
Ten Hag believes that the involvement of INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe will bring a positive dynamic to the club. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a winning culture, regardless of who leads or owns the team. According to the manager, “We always want to win, it doesn’t matter who is the leader. We are appointed here in this area; we need a winning culture no matter who is in the lead, no matter who is the owner.” This mindset showcases Ten Hag’s commitment to driving success and his willingness to adapt to new dynamics within the club.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag eagerly anticipates the future collaboration with INEOS following Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s acquisition of a 25% stake in the club. With additional investments and new board members, the partnership promises positive changes for the team. While discussions with INEOS have been postponed due to the manager’s focus on an upcoming match, Ten Hag is optimistic about the potential of working together. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a winning culture and looks forward to harnessing the combined strengths of the club and its new investors.