Erik ten Hag got a ‘fantastic feeling’ from his first meeting with new Manchester United part-owners INEOS, the Dutchman claims. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his team are preparing to take control of the Red Devils’ sporting operation after purchasing a minority stake from the Glazers.
United fans have protested frequently against the ownership of the Glazer family, who have become wildly unpopular since first taking control of the club in 2005.
Many hope that Sir Jim’s arrival will signal a new beginning, with the Glazers set to relinquish control over sporting matters despite remaining majority owners in the boardroom. INEOS have plenty of experience overseeing other sporting ventures, including French outfit OGC Nice and cycling heavyweights INEOS Grenadiers.
And the first conversation between Ten Hag and his new bosses appears to have gone smoothly, with the United boss encouraged by what was said.
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“From my talks I had a fantastic feeling after it,” he explained. “How their personalities and ideas affect the process they want to go in. So I am very positive about that and I am sure it will be beneficial to Manchester United.”
Ten Hag was a lot more guarded when it came to issues of recruitment and how INEOS’ arrival could prompt a change in approach. Many of the former Ajax boss’ expensive signings have struggled to bed in at Old Trafford, and the club have little money left to make further acquisitions in January while staying on the right side of Financial Fair Play rules.
“It is a cup game, so it is do or die,” Ten Hag, who lost last season’s FA Cup final to local rivals Manchester City, explained. “So I like it but we have had this situation before this season and we have to be ready for the game.
“We had one game [last season] to decide the winner, and we were not [it]. So we have to make sure we get ready for that game and we will face an opponent who is 100 percent [ready] and will give more than 100 percent.”
