Manchester United have endured their fair share of tough times since the departure of club legend Sir Alex Ferguson, but with Sir Jim Ratcliffe acquiring a 25% stake in the club, fans may have reason to be optimistic again.
The ownership situation at Old Trafford was a long, tedious process that consisted of a number of interested parties, but in the end, one emerged successful. Now, however, they have a substantial task on their hands: getting United back to being the considerable force they once were.
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After the departure of Ferguson, the club experienced a variety of different managers and players. David Moyes kicked things off, but that experiment was a real hit-and-miss. He only lasted in the position for 10 months, leaving the side in seventh place on the league table. Subsequently, United missed out on a UEFA Champions League spot for the first time since 1995.
The Manchester side would go on to have a managerial merry-go-round with Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer all starting off well before fading and getting the boot, which seems to be a reoccurring theme at Old Trafford that has led them to where they are today.
The issue, however, was not necessarily the changes in management. The issue has perhaps always been the club's lack of direction and identity. Whenever a new manager was appointed, they would adopt a team that was in the process of being set up to tailor the preferences of the previous boss who favoured a different style of play, and because of the pressure to obtain results in a short period of time, the manager would not get the opportunity to complete the project.
Some would say the purpose of having an identity and a style of play is to ensure a sustainable method of achieving success over a long period of time. For example, if the style of play is established at the executive level, a system is in place to ensure the club is able to obtain positive results regardless of who the person in charge is. Ideally, players who have profiles that align with the value of the club would be brought in on a more regular basis, and that is what United have been missing.
Erik ten Hag then came in and after a very poor opening to the 2022/23 campaign, he settled in and led the side to a third-place finish and a Carabao Cup triumph. This season, however, is proving to be a bit more challenging. He, too, adopted a team that arguably was not suited for the way he wanted to play — the style of football he established during his successful tenure at Ajax Amsterdam. However, he was seemingly given the leeway to bring players into the club that he wanted. Earlier this year, the Dutch tactician even admitted that he cannot implement his very own philosophy.
"I can't play like Ajax because I have different players," he said, per Sky Sports.
"I came here with my philosophy, based on possession, but I wanted to combine it with the DNA of Manchester United, the players and their characters."
The Dutchman has a vision, and Ratcliffe and company need to collaborate with him to ensure that it comes to life and results in the long-term success of the club. A positive that can be taken from the change in the ownership dynamic is the possibility of those in charge actually caring for the club.
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For a long time, the Old Trafford faithful have been complaining about the Glazer family, expressing concerns about the amount of care they have for the institution. Fans have felt that the American owners only saw United as a money-making machine — which it is. However, with the addition of the British billionaire, the club can still make its fair share of revenue while investing to enhance on-pitch performances. An open letter Ratcliffe wrote to the fans will have filled them with much encouragement.
"We recognise our responsibility as custodians of the club on your behalf," he said in the letter, per BBC.
"I believe we can bring sporting success on the pitch to complement the undoubted commercial success that the club has enjoyed.
"It will require time and patience alongside rigour and the highest level of professional management.
"You are ambitious for Manchester United and so are we. There are no guarantees in sport, and change can inevitably take time but we are in it for the long term and together we want to help take Manchester United back to where the club belongs, at the very top of English, European and world football.
"I take that responsibility very seriously."
Opinion by Junaid Benjamin
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