Jim Ratcliffe Acknowledges Manchester United's ‘Mistakes’ in Handling Erik ten Hag and Dan Ashworth

In a string of recent interviews, Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has offered his candid take on key decisions made at the club, including what he now sees as missteps regarding Erik ten Hag’s contract extension and the hiring of Dan Ashworth.

Ratcliffe addressed Ashworth’s departure, who left the club in December, just five months after being appointed as sporting director. United had worked hard to bring Ashworth from Newcastle United, formally approaching the Magpies in February 2024 before finalizing the deal in July. Meanwhile, after a disappointing eighth-place finish in the Premier League, the club also decided to extend Erik ten Hag’s contract. However, just nine games into the new season, Ten Hag was dismissed, and Ratcliffe now acknowledges that both decisions ultimately proved costly – reportedly setting the club back around £15 million. 

Speaking to The Times, Ratcliffe admitted that the club's hierarchy gave Ten Hag “the benefit of doubt” because it was too early in the tenure to make a significant change. "It was too early for us to make a big decision in reality," he said, reflecting on the decision-making process over the summer. One of the biggest challenges, Ratcliffe explained, was trying to determine whether United’s struggles were down to Ten Hag’s management or broader structural issues within the club. "It was quite difficult to extract Erik's performance from the structure around him. Was the erratic performance a function of Erik, or was it a function of the organisation? And we couldn't really get to the bottom of answering that question with certainty, I suppose, so we gave Erik the benefit of the doubt." 

Looking back, Ratcliffe now sees the approach as a mistake, acknowledging that their uncertainty over the club’s deeper issues led to costly decisions. Ratcliffe, however, remained tight-lipped when it came to discussing Dan Ashworth, possibly due to legal reasons. When asked about the situation, he kept his response brief. "If we're talking about our industry, I think we just have to say chemistry. But I don’t want to go down that road," he said. 

Meanwhile, Manchester United’s struggles have continued under Ruben Amorim, who took over from Ten Hag as the club’s permanent manager in November. Despite high hopes for a turnaround, the Red Devils have failed to meet expectations and currently find themselves languishing in 14th place in the Premier League. With just nine wins from 28 matches, United’s season has been nothing short of disappointing, leaving fans frustrated and the club searching for answers. 

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