Ratcliffe says some Man Utd players not good enough

Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe has delivered a frank assessment of the club’s recent struggles, criticizing past player acquisitions and admitting to errors in key appointments, while also expressing continued support for current manager Ruben Amorim.

Ratcliffe, whose INEOS group took charge of football operations at Old Trafford in February 2023, specifically named Rasmus Hojlund, Andre Onana, Casemiro, Jadon Sancho, and Antony as players who were either “not good enough” or “probably overpaid.” He highlighted the ongoing financial burden of past transfer decisions, particularly in the case of Sancho, who is currently on loan at Chelsea with United still contributing to his wages and paying instalments for a permanent deal.

“If you look at the players we are buying this summer, that we didn’t buy, we’re buying Antony, we’re buying Casemiro, we’re buying Onana, we’re buying Hojlund, we’re buying Sancho,” Ratcliffe told the BBC. “These are all things from the past, whether we like it or not, we’ve inherited those things and have to sort that out. For Sancho, who now plays for Chelsea and we pay half his wages, we’re paying £17 million to buy him in the summer.”

He added, “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.”

Ratcliffe also acknowledged that the decision to retain manager Erik ten Hag last season, after an eighth-place Premier League finish (albeit with an FA Cup victory), was a mistake. Ten Hag was subsequently sacked in October and replaced by Ruben Amorim. He also conceded that the appointment of Dan Ashworth as sporting director, who left the role after just five months in December, was an error.

“I agree the Erik ten Tag and Dan Ashworth decisions were errors,” the 72-year-old said. “I think there were some mitigating circumstances, but ultimately they were errors. I accept that and I apologize for that.”

Despite United’s continued struggles under Amorim, currently sitting 14th in the Premier League, Ratcliffe reiterated his support for the Portuguese manager. “If I actually look at the squad which is available to Ruben, I think he is doing a really good job to be honest,” he said. “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.”

Ratcliffe’s comments provide a rare glimpse into the thinking of United’s ownership and their assessment of the club’s current situation. While acknowledging past mistakes, he emphasized the long-term nature of the rebuilding process and his faith in Amorim to lead the team forward.