Ratcliffe could oversee an upheaval of staff and the squad in his first summer transfer window as a United part-owner. Several players’ futures are unclear.
Express Sport picks out four starters who weren’t on their A-game while Ratcliffe watched from the directors’ box as an investor for the first time.
Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans
Raphael Varane and Jonny Evans’ contracts expire this summer, and neither looked convincing at centre-half against Spurs.
United were stretched apart far too often, and Evans’ age particularly showed when Rodrigo Bentancur skipped past him for the visitors’ second equaliser.
Lisandro Martinez was a welcome return. The Old Trafford roar upon his arrival onto the pitch for Evans after the hour mark said it all.
But Varane has to improve if he is to rekindle his formidable partnership with the Argentine from last season in the coming months.
Kobbie Mainoo
Kobbie Mainoo has been one of the bright sparks in a disastrous season, but he left with too much to do against Spurs.
The two-attacking midfielder experiment Ten Hag has conducted this term hasn’t worked, regularly leaving gaping holes in his midfield.
And it left the 18-year-old with more than he could handle against a physical, high-intensity midfield.
Ratcliffe will know of Mainoo’s true quality and potential, though, and should be happy to build around him for years to come. Placing Casemiro next to the Stockport-born star could propel him to new heights.
Christian Eriksen
Eriksen has looked off the pace all season and it was no different against his former club at the weekend.
The 31-year-old is always capable of playing smart passes and creating openings, but he can’t start games when United so blatantly need energy and physicality in midfield.
Fred was fantastic for that before United sanctioned his exit to Fenerbahce last summer. Scott McTominay has both of those traits but lacks technical quality and tactical awareness.
Eriksen has one year left on the three-year contract he signed after joining on a free transfer in 2022. But Ratcliffe may hope the £60million replacement who Ten Hag signed in the summer – Mason Mount – comes good.
Alejandro Garnacho
Alejandro Garnacho started his 16th consecutive game against Tottenham, favoured over Antony and Facundo Pellistri on the right.
But the 19-year-old winger appeared off the pace, often too slow to react to loose balls and struggling to beat his man when in possession.
Garnacho produced some dangerous crosses that were unmet, apart from the inswinger aimed at McTominay in the dying embers, which the Scotsman should’ve directed on target.
A new right-winger to replace Antony could be on INEOS’ agenda, though, if Garnacho can’t consistently perform.
