Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe admitted the club have become “mediocre” and cannot deflect from “difficult and unpopular decisions” in a bid to return to the top.
The British Billionaire’s comments comes after new head coach Ruben Amorim said on Friday that the Red Devils are a “massive club” but not a “massive team”.
Ratcliffe’s company INEOS took over the United’s football operations in the early part of the year but the club have continued to struggle on the pitch, even after a surprising FA Cup triumph last campaign.
However, the club hierarchy could not continue being patient with Erik ten Hag, replacing him with Amorim at the end of October.
“The club has drifted for a long period of time, a decade or so,” Ratcliffe said to the United We Stand fanzine.
“Manchester United has become mediocre.
“It’s not elite and it is supposed to be one of the best football clubs in the world.
“That’s what it used to be under Alex [Ferguson]. There is major change to come to achieve elite status. There has already been huge change.”
United have not put in a strong challenge for the Premier League title since Ferguson won the trophy in his final season in charge in 2012/13.
“We have to make some difficult and unpopular decisions,” continued British billionaire Ratcliffe.
“If you shy away from the difficult decisions then nothing much is going to change.”
Ratcliffe, who has overseen an overhaul of United’s backroom staff since his arrival, also criticised the club’s recruitment.
“We must have the best recruitment in the world.
“Data analysis comes alongside recruitment. It doesn’t really exist here. We’re still in the last century on data analysis here.
“These things don’t happen overnight. You can’t just flick a light switch and sort out recruitment. It’s all about people and we need to find the right people,” he added.
Ratcliffe also commended “intelligent, thoughtful” new coach Amorim and said the club had a “great chief executive” in Omar Berrada.
“It’s one of the biggest challenges in the sporting world, taking United back to where the club should be.
“That’s a very rewarding challenge if we get there, but it’s a rocky road with ups and downs,” he said.
