Jim Ratcliffe Criticizes Man Utd Squad, Calls for Overhaul

Jim Ratcliffe Criticizes Manchester United Squad Quality, Calls for Overhaul

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has admitted that several players at the club are "not good enough," while others are "overpaid," as he continues to oversee a major overhaul aimed at restoring the club to its former glory.

Ratcliffe, whose 25% stake in the club came with significant control over football operations, has acknowledged the challenges facing manager Ruben Amorim, who took charge in November following Erik ten Hag's departure. Despite initial optimism, Amorim has struggled to turn around United’s poor form, with the club languishing in 14th place in the Premier League. Since his appointment, United have won only five of 17 league matches and have been eliminated from both domestic cup competitions.

Ratcliffe expressed confidence in Amorim’s ability but admitted that the squad’s current state has made the manager’s job particularly difficult.

Squad Overhaul and Financial Constraints

Speaking in an extensive interview, Ratcliffe admitted that the club had inherited a number of expensive signings who have underperformed. He cited players such as Antony, Casemiro, André Onana, Rasmus Højlund, and Jadon Sancho as examples of costly acquisitions that have not delivered the expected results.

"We've inherited a lot of financial baggage with some of the players signed in previous years," Ratcliffe said. "For instance, we’re still paying half of Sancho’s wages while he plays for Chelsea, and we’re set to spend £17 million to buy him outright in the summer."

Sancho, who was signed for £73 million in 2021, is currently on loan at Chelsea, while Antony—who joined for £81.5 million—has been loaned to Spanish side Real Betis.

"Some players are simply not at the required level, and some are being paid far more than they should be," Ratcliffe added. "Reshaping this squad into something we are fully accountable for will take time."

Despite the financial strain, Ratcliffe ruled out selling emerging talents such as Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho, insisting that the club remains committed to building a competitive future rather than balancing the books by offloading promising young players.

"The club had become bloated, so we’re streamlining things to create a more efficient organization," he explained. "Without intervention, United would have run out of cash by the end of 2025—even after I invested $300 million and assuming no new signings were made this summer."

Backing for Ruben Amorim

Despite the turbulent transition period, Ratcliffe offered his full backing to Amorim, describing him as an "outstanding young manager."

"If you look at the squad available to Ruben, he’s actually doing a very good job," Ratcliffe said. "I believe he will be here for a long time, and we are already seeing glimpses of what he can produce—like the performance against Arsenal."

Amorim has faced significant challenges since taking over, particularly with United's inconsistent performances and discontent among supporters. Thousands of fans protested against the club’s ownership before Sunday’s draw with Arsenal, expressing frustration over years of underachievement.

Marcus Rashford’s Departure and Dressing Room Standards

Ratcliffe also addressed the situation surrounding Marcus Rashford, who left on loan to Aston Villa in January after a period of poor form and controversy. He defended Amorim’s strict approach to squad discipline, emphasizing that only fully committed players would be tolerated.

"Ruben wants a dressing room filled with players who are entirely focused on winning football matches," Ratcliffe stated. "He will not tolerate anyone who does not share that mentality. Every player needs to be on the same page."

Regarding Rashford's departure, Ratcliffe suggested that a change of environment could be beneficial for the forward.

"He’s moved out of Manchester, and maybe that’s for the best. I’m glad to see him performing well because he’s immensely talented, but for some reason, things hadn’t been working for him over the past couple of seasons."

Future Plans: Aiming for United’s Return to Greatness

While acknowledging the difficulties of the current transition, Ratcliffe reassured fans that his long-term goal is to restore Manchester United to its former heights.

"It's an uncomfortable and disruptive period, and I understand the frustration of the supporters," he admitted. "But my only objective is to bring Manchester United back to greatness."

With job cuts already implemented and a squad revamp in progress, Ratcliffe remains adamant that the club is on the right path—though significant work remains before United can once again compete at the highest level.