"You put Max Verstappen in a Williams, he's not going to win a Formula One Championship" - Sir Jim Ratcliffe delivers verdict on Manchester United
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has delivered a verdict on the club, following the decision to sack manager Erik ten Hag. The Dutch tactician was shown the door on October 28, a day after the Red Devils lost 2-1 to West Ham in the Premier League.
After his sack, assistant coach Ruud van Nistelrooy was promoted to the position of interim manager. The club legend has already led the team to two games without a loss. A 5-2 win in the EFL Cup over Leicester City helped Van Nistelrooy cement his temporary position in the dugout. He followed it up with a 1-1 draw in the Premier League against Chelsea at Old Trafford on November 3.
Manchester United have already decided on a permanent head coach, with Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim set to take over from Van Nistelrooy on November 11. It has certainly been a busy week at Old Trafford, prompting Jim Ratcliffe's assessment. When asked if he could draw any insights from his sailing team Britannia, in a bid to improve the Red Devils' fortunes, he said (via Daily Mail):
"I think there's one little crossover, which is that you can't win the America's Cup, unless you arrive at the America's Cup with a boat that could win the America's Cup. Same in Formula One. I mean you put Max Verstappen in a Williams, he's not going to win a Formula One championship.
"And with football it's the same with the squad in a way. That's the parallel for me. You can't win anything in football if your squad isn't good enough to win something. The quality of the squad is a bit like the speed of the boat. That's the only parallel really."
Indeed, the Manchester United squad have been rather sub-par in the Premier League this season. They have won just three matches in 10 so far, scoring nine goals and conceding 12. These performances have left them hanging in 13th place, with just 12 points from those 10 games.
Manchester United's interim boss reveals interest in working with incoming head coach
Manchester United's interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy has revealed that he is interested in assisting incoming head coach Ruben Amorim. The Portuguese coach will take over the proceedings at Carrington during the international break, and will be looking to turn things around.
It is widely expected that Amorim will bring his own coaches, as he takes on the difficult role of managing the Red Devils. However, Van Nistelrooy wants to stay on, as he said to the press (via The National News):
“Like I said on Wednesday, I came here to help as an assistant, as a coach and in this bit as well as an interim for a short spell. Then, again, in any capacity willing to help, so in that sense I’m open for this future."
It is currently uncertain if Van Nistelrooy will retain his spot as assistant coach when Amorim begins his tenure at Manchester United. In the meantime, the interim boss will focus on their upcoming games against PAOK in the Europa League on November 7 and Leiceister City in the Premier League on November 10. Both games will take place at Old Trafford.