Sir Jim Ratcliffe dodges Erik ten Hag question in rare TV interview from Manchester United co-owner

Sir Jim Ratcliffe dodged answering a question about Erik ten Hag’s future amid uncertainty surrounding the Dutchman’s position at Manchester United.

The Red Devils have suffered a dreadful start to the new season and have won just three of their 10 matches, while accumulating only seven points from six league games. Thursday’s capitulation at Porto was another indication of how ineffective Ten Hag’s tactics are at present. United blew a two-goal and managed to rescue a 3-3 draw thanks to an injury-time equaliser from Harry Maguire.

Reports have suggested that Ten Hag could be sacked if United lose against Aston Villa this weekend, and Ratcliffe avoided backing the manager in a recent interview with the BBC.

Asked if he has faith in the United boss, Ratcliffe replied: “I don’t want to answer that question. I like Erik, he’s a very good coach. But at the end of the day, it’s not my call.

“It’s that management team that is running Manchester United that have to decide how we best run the team. But that team that’s running Manchester United has only been together since June or July.

“They weren’t there in January, February, March or April. Omar [Berrada], Dan Ashworth - they only arrived in July. They’ve only been there…you can count it in weeks almost. They’ve not been there a long time so they need to take stock and make some sensible decisions.

"Our objective is very clear - we want to take Manchester United back to where it should be, and it’s not there yet, obviously - that’s very clear.”

It’s not the first time Ratcliffe has failed to back Ten Hag. “I’m not going to comment on the job he’s done because that would be inappropriate,” the Ineos chief said in February as his purchase of a partial stake in the club was ratified, while he also added that ‘ sometimes you do have to make decisions that may not be popular’.

Ten Hag’s position has also been undermined after United interviewed several managers in the summer before ultimately sticking with the 54-year-old.

However, Ten Hag has been backed by the new Ineos regime, with Berrada, the club’s new CEO. “We think Erik is the right coach for us and we're fully backing him,” he said at the end of August, just hours before the 3-0 loss to Liverpool at Old Trafford.