Sir Jim Ratcliffe has come to the defense of the Glazer family, owners of Manchester United, despite growing discontent among fans since INEOS took over operations at Old Trafford.
The British billionaire, whose INEOS group purchased minority stakes in Manchester United last summer, has been facing increasing criticism as the club endures a nightmare 2024/25 campaign. Currently sitting 14th in the Premier League and having been eliminated from both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, supporters' initial optimism about Ratcliffe's involvement has quickly turned to frustration.
Nevertheless, Ratcliffe offered a passionate defense of the American businessmen in an interview with The Times. "To be fair to the Glazers, they're really good on the commercial side," Ratcliffe stated. "The people who advise me say the fans don't want to hear it. So I've got to be cautious."
The INEOS chief went on to describe the Glazers in glowing terms: "I get a lot of criticism if I support the Glazers, but the fact is they're really decent people. They're East Coast, you know - that old East Coast America, they're very polite, they're very civilized, they're the nicest people on the planet."
Ratcliffe was particularly complimentary about Joel Glazer, though his praise came with a subtle criticism of previous management appointments. "I mean, there isn't a bad bone in Joel Glazer's body. I mean, part of the problem is there isn't a bad bone in his body, which is why he didn't bloody... I mean, I wouldn't have tolerated Ed Woodward or Richard Arnold. Richard was a rugby man, he didn't even understand football. Ed didn't have the credentials to manage the club. He was a merchant banker, an accountant. He wasn't the chief executive."
These comments come at a sensitive time for Manchester United. In a recent interview, Ratcliffe claimed the club could go "bust by Christmas" as he attempted to justify significant cost-cutting measures that have resulted in numerous staff members losing their jobs. Meanwhile, the club has announced formal plans to build a new 100,000-capacity stadium with INEOS pledging a £2 billion investment.
On the pitch, Ruben Amorim's side will be looking to improve their disappointing league position when they face Leicester City away from home in Premier League action this Sunday.
