Erik ten Hag has so far rejected the opportunity to talk with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos advisors because he wants to focus solely on Manchester United’s hectic schedule on the pitch but the manager believes the new owners “can inspire” everyone at the club.
Despite Ratcliffe’s 25% purchase becoming official on Christmas Eve, Ten Hag is yet to speak with Sir Dave Brailsford – the Ineos director of sport – or Jean-Claud Blanc, the Ineos CEO, both of whom are expected to take seats on the football board.
The Dutchman said: “I’m focused on the game[s] so far, so I said: ‘No, in this moment I don’t want to have distractions.’ But in the coming days, weeks, there will be time for this, and then I’ll know more.
“But I think it’s a good thing, it’s very positive. We are really looking forward to working together. Ineos wants to work with me, in this structure and I want to work with them. The schedule is so condensed so I didn’t have the time so far to speak with them but it will come.
“We always want to win, it doesn’t matter who is [the leader], we are appointed here to win, so in this area, we need a winning culture no matter who is in the lead, no matter who is the owner. But of course, the owners can inspire you.”
Brailsford was at Old Trafford for the stunning 3-2 Boxing Day turnaround against Aston Villa and Ineos will surely have some presence at Saturday’s trip to Nottingham Forest. He was one of the masterminds behind Team Sky’s success at the Tour de France before it was bought by Ineos in 2019, while Ratcliffe also owns French side Nice and Lausanne-Sport in Switzerland.
“In other clubs, they have experience, in other sports, they have a lot of experience, a lot about performance, a lot of knowledge,” Ten Hag said. “So I’m really looking forward to [seeing] how they can contribute and I’m sure they can. Football is a very complicated sport, especially at the top, so I’m sure they will contribute, they will help us to achieve our high ambitions.”
