Edwin van der Sar dropped an eye-opening perspective on Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe amid Ineos’ reign over football operations at Old Trafford.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe captured a minority stake in Manchester United in 2023 and the 72-year-old British billionaire’s Ineos team has taken a key role at Old Trafford.
The United co-owner, who is a boyhood Red Devils supporter, has faced no easy task in steering the ship at the Premier League club back in the right direction.
Ratcliffe and Co have faced immense criticism since their arrival at Old Trafford, including United putting up the prices of tickets for Red Devils supporters.
The Ineos chief has also overseen a period of sweeping cost-cutting measures at the Premier League club amid trying to balance United’s struggling financial situation.
The Red Devils laid off around 250 staff in 2024 and United are expected to undergo a second round of redundancies in 2025, with 200 roles on the chopping block.
Edwin van der Sar’s feelings on Ineos chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe at Man Utd amid the Red Devils’ struggles at Old Trafford
Despite his unpopularity at times over his divisive decisions, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has remained firm on committing to the measures that Ineos have put in place.
The Ineos chief has been clear about his desire to see Manchester United return to the top of English football and capture the Premier League title again.
United’s shake-up at Old Trafford has included a behind-the-scenes change to the club hierarchy, including the arrival of figures like Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Edwin van der Sar insisted that the Red Devils’ hierarchy was now “clear” and the club’s ownership structure was evident.
“I think at the moment the hierarchy is clear,” he said in May, as per BBC Sport.
“You have the Glazers, the 25 [per cent] ownership from Jim Ratcliffe.
“The football director has gone after four or five months. At a certain point, you need to know what you want to get out of the club, what direction you want to go.
“So, I don’t think it’s beneficial to change [the] manager again.”
Edwin van der Sar’s verdict on Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos is a clear reminder for Man Utd fans
Ratcliffe and Ineos have dug themselves into the trenches at Old Trafford and they have to weather the storm after a turbulent 2024-25 campaign at the club.
Van der Sar’s comments on Ratcliffe and Ineos came in the aftermath of United’s 1-0 Europa League final defeat to Tottenham at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao.
The 54-year-old United legend insisted at the time that the Red Devils needed to think about the “long run” and “stick with a manager and a certain style of play.”
Ratcliffe and Ineos clearly made the right call by sticking with Ruben Amorim after a disappointing season, which saw United finish 15th in the Premier League table.
Van der Sar pointed out that some former United managers were “successful with trophies” after the retirement of Red Devils legend Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013.
However, the former United and Ajax star’s point about building a project with a manager is so much more important and Ratcliffe and Ineos have stuck with that.
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