With his head in his hands, Sir Jim Ratcliffe saw Manchester United blоw two leads and two points against Tottenham.
Ratcliffe, the new co-owner of the Red Devils, saw his first Manchester United match after acquiring a 25% stake in the team for £1.03 billiоn and gaining control of the football department.
9Sir Jim Ratcliffe couldn’t watch as Man Utd threw away the lead twice vs SpursCredit: Rex
9Ratcliffe watched on from the stands alongside Sir Alex FergusonCredit: PA
9Ratcliffe arrived at Old Trafford for his first game since the announcement of his takeoverCredit: Rex
9The British millionaire addressed the media inside the structure.Credit: Getty Sir Jim, seated next to legendary Sir Alex Ferguson, thought he had found the ideal Old Trafford mixer when United forwards Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund scored two goals each, but fifth-place Spurs responded twice to tie the score.But manager Erik ten Hag informed the club’s new football chief: You’ve seen a bunch of warriors.”He will have seen two great goals and a team figҺting for each other and trying to get a win,” said the Dutch coach.”We fought and gave it our all; the fans were behind us, and the game was fantastic for everyone to watch, not just United supporters, because there was a great tempo.”Ten Hag said that United, who are now eight points off of the Champions League berths and sixth in the Premier League, are playing soft defense.Ratcliffe’s pre-match assertion that United “normally do well against Spurs” did not materialize as Richarlison leveled the score with a flicked header from a corner, despite Hojlund’s goal in the third minute.
9Sir Dave Brailsford was also in attendance with RatcliffeCredit: Reuters
9Sir Jim Ratcliffe has already met with Red Devils manager Erik ten HagCredit: Getty
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Just before halftime, Rodrigo Bentancur scored a second goal to tie the score. Ten Hag expressed his disappointment, saying, “It is frustrating when you go ahead twice and then concede two soft goals.” Marcus Rashford gave United the lead back.
Ratcliffe, Ineos chief and lifelong Red Devils supporter, anticipates that the Premier League will approve his contract early in the next month.
“Correct. Yes,” was his response when asked whether the transaction was the most tҺrilling he had ever done.
“We hope they don’t find anything dodgy in our CV,” he said.
Since we arrived, this is my first match. As you are aware, it has taken various twists, but these things need effort.
“I am very excited to be here but I can’t answer any questions really.”
Sir Jim has participated in professional sports with Nice in Ligue 1, cycling, and sailing.
But after first laying eyes on United “two or three years ago,” he said that this was by far the most interesting project he had worked on.
“I have done a few exciting things, but this caps it all—there is no doubt about that,” the millionaire said.
Erik ten Hag, the manager, has previously met with him; he did not elaborate on their discussions.
“I have met Erik, but until everything is formalized, it would be inappropriate to sаy anything,” he said.
Ten Hag thought they were denied a clear penalty in the 32nd minute after Alejandro Garnacho seemed to be hauled down by Spurs defender Destiny Udogie. Ten Hag’s squad had just 36% of the possession.
The Dutchman cites the handball by Cristian Romero from a Garnacho shot in August’s 2-0 loss at White Hart Lane as evidence that this is not the first time they have been the victim of VAR.
What can you do, he said? However, I’m used to it at this point in the season.
“It was the same at Spurs; Romero clearly handballed.”Rashford’s celebration, in which he seemed to warn detractors to stop complaining about his lack of goals, infuriated former United captain Roy Keane.
“He’s got no right to be upset, he’s not done the business,” Keane said.
9Rasmus Hojlund put on a show for Ratcliffe in the first halfCredit: AFP
9Spurs fought back to share the spoils at Old TraffordCredit: Getty