No Panic at Old Trafford! Three Years, Not Three Games
Three-Year Vision, Not Three Bad Games
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made it clear — he’s not firing Ruben Amorim any time soon. Despite Manchester United’s rough run, the billionaire insists he won’t make a “kneejerk” decision and plans to give the Portuguese coach three full years to prove himself.
Amorim, who’s been in charge for almost a year, hasn’t found consistency. United sit 10th in the league and still haven’t won two matches in a row. His preferred 3-4-3 system has been under fire, but Ratcliffe is standing firm.
“People want instant success,” Ratcliffe said on The Business podcast. “They think you just flick a switch, and everything’s perfect. Football doesn’t work like that. You build, you learn, and you grow.”
No Pressure from the Glazers
Ratcliffe, who bought 25% of United in late 2023 and now oversees football operations, also dismissed the idea that the Glazers could push him to sack Amorim.
“It’s not going to happen,” he said. “We’re here, we’re local. They’re on the other side of the world. You can’t run a club like United from thousands of miles away.”
Despite years of protests from fans, Ratcliffe defended his fellow owners. “They get a bad rap,” he said. “But they’re actually nice people who care about the club.”
Cutting Costs, Raising Standards
Since taking charge, Ratcliffe has slashed costs and trimmed what he called “bloat” inside the club. Around 450 jobs were cut, and several expensive non-playing roles were removed. Some fans criticized moves like ending free staff lunches, but Ratcliffe says it’s about discipline.
“The costs were just too high,” he said. “There are some fantastic people here, but also a level of mediocrity. The biggest link between results and anything else is money — profitability gives you power to build a better team.”
Building for the Future
United’s latest financial report showed record revenues of £666.5 million but still a loss of £33 million. Ratcliffe insists the turnaround is only beginning.
“These numbers don’t yet show the benefits of what we’ve started,” he said. “Next year will look better. I believe Manchester United can become the most profitable football club in the world — and from that will come success on the pitch.”
For Ratcliffe, patience is the key word. Amorim’s project may take time, but the message is simple: Manchester United won’t be built overnight.
