Man Utd co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has backed manager Ruben Amorim, affirming that the Portuguese coach will remain at the club “for a long time”.
Amorim, who took over from Erik ten Hag in November, has faced a challenging start to his tenure. The 40-year-old has secured only 11 wins from 26 games, leading to speculation that United might consider a managerial change in the summer.
However, Ratcliffe has voiced his confidence in Amorim, backing the former Sporting CP coach to enjoy an extended period at Old Trafford.
“If I actually look at the squad which is available to Ruben, I think he is doing a really good job, to be honest,” Ratcliffe said in an interview with the BBC. “I think Ruben is an outstanding young manager. I really do. He’s an excellent manager and I think he will be there for a long time.”
United currently sit 14th in the Premier League following a 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Sunday, a result that follows their disappointing eighth-place finish last season – the club’s lowest since the Premier League’s inception. Ratcliffe provided a candid assessment of the squad he inherited after purchasing a minority stake in the club last year.
“Some are not good enough and some probably are overpaid, but for us to mold the squad that we are fully responsible for and accountable for, will take time,” he said. “We’ve got this period of transformation where we move from the past to the future.”
Ratcliffe attended the match at Old Trafford on Sunday, where thousands of fans staged a protest ahead of the game. The majority of the anger was directed at the Glazer family, United’s majority owners. However, Ratcliffe himself has also faced criticism for his cost-cutting measures, which have included laying off 450 staff members.
The 72-year-old British billionaire has also approved ticket price increases but emphasized that these steps are essential to avoid financial instability for the club.
“We are in the process of change and it’s an uncomfortable period and disruptive and I do feel sympathy with the fans,” said Ratcliffe. “The simple answer is the club runs out of money at Christmas if we don’t do those things.”
