Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Bruno Fernandes
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been sent a message (Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Edwin van der Sar believes Manchester United have brought in enough personnel during the last few transfer windows and must “stop chopping left and right”.
He also underlined that the relationship between Ruben Amorim and whoever is leading football operations is key. Sporting director Dan Ashworth was relieved of his duties over the weekend, just five months after assuming the role.
It is unclear the exact circumstances which led to his exit but he was told of his sacking after Saturday’s 3-2 defeat to Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford. It is uncertain whether Sir Jim Ratcliffe will source a replacement.
READ MORE: Manchester United staff member reacts to Dan Ashworth departure
READ MORE:Ratcliffe might repeat Glazer trick to appoint Dan Ashworth replacement
Ratcliffe formed a new executive board this summer, which also included CEO Omar Berrada and technical director Jason Wilcox. Van der Sar says it is crucial that Amorim works in tandem with the board regarding any future transfer activity, with January approaching.
“They've signed enough players and at a certain point, you have to also stop chopping left and right,” the former Ajax chief told Sky Sports. “Now they [players] are going to play a new system [under Amorim].
“Of course, a manager probably wants to have one or two players coming in January. I think the most important thing is to have the line with the technical director, the football director, that they can know which situation will be needed to replace, to change, to add.
“I'm sure that discussion will be there, but in the meantime, a manager needs to perform and needs to win games because the position where they are now is not great.”
He added: “It's of utmost importance that all things are connected. I experienced at Ajax also when one radar, one little thing is not working, it can have an effect down the line.
Former Ajax manager Alfred Schreuder and Edwin van der Sar
Former Ajax boss Alfred Schreuder and Edwin van der Sar (Image: ANP Sport via Getty Images)
“I think that happened also at United. I think the structure has been quite clear, with the Glazers as the ownership. I think the football structure and the CEO position has been changed also a few times.
“I think what I feel, what I hear, what I read, I think they've all been signed in a certain way that they can back each other up. Unfortunately for Erik ten Hag, the results didn't work.
“I think now, let's say, the people who should appoint a manager have appointed their manager, so that would probably work better than the situation a couple of months ago.”
Van der Sar meanwhile gave an update on his health, having suffered a brain haemorrhage in Croatia in 2023. Five weeks after leaving his role at Ajax, the former United hero spent two weeks in hospital but believes he has made an almost complete recovery.
He recalled waking up on the final day of his holiday feeling unwell and vomiting before his wife, Annemarie, called a doctor after recognising the signs. “It was a bit of a shock to be fair,” he explained.
“Because you all think you're healthy, you're strong and, of course you're not as fit anymore as during your career, but you never expect that something like that would happen to a fit 52-year-old man.
“Am I fully recovered? I think so, yes. Probably some things changed in my thinking, but that's only, for example, my wife and my children, they notice that. But let's say a conversation like this is not a problem.”
Van der Sar - who has a foundation that helps young children with brain haemorrhages - says he is not done with football but indicated that it might be a little while yet before he re-enters the game after his health scare.
“I think I'm enjoying life, taking things as it comes. I'm not really looking for a new challenge or something,” the 54-year-old said. “To really step into a new adventure, I'm not really sure if that's going to be the next thing…
“The attraction of the football world, the smell of success or working with a team to achieve something, I think that will be a pull at a certain point in the coming years.”