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Jim Ratcliffe has admitted he doesn’t mean being ‘unpopular’ among Manchester United fans amid this difficult period.
Since the completion of acquiring a stake in Manchester United, it has not been a smooth road for Jim Ratcliffe.
Last year, the British billionaire invested £1.3 billion in the club he has supported all of his life, for a 27.7 percent stake. After pumping extra money into United, Ratcliffe upped his stake to 28.94 percent in December, with his INEOS group in charge of the football operations, while the Glazer family remain the majority stakeholders.
The ongoing divide between United fans and the Glazers is worldwide knowledge. For years, fans have protested over the club’s ownership. Last season was United’s worst ever Premier League finish and with them currently hanging eight points outside the top ten, they are struggling with another woeful overall run in the top flight.
Jim Ratcliffe addresses backlash from United fans
Ratcliffe is yet to win over a huge portion of the United fanbase. Amid the disappointing results, some questionable decisions, and comments that have not sat well with supporters, the club co-owner has been put in the firing line.
Addressing the backlash from fans and the media, Ratcliffe admitted in an interview with The Times that he no longer reads the newspapers and each day feels like he is being hit with a ‘school report’. The 72-year-old opened up on his view of the criticism and how it could drive him towards the door it approaches Glazer magnitude.
“It can be unpleasant, and I’ve probably failed on the having fun front. I mean, I can put up with it for a while. I don’t mind being unpopular because I get that nobody likes seeing Manchester United down where they are, and nobody likes the decisions we’re having to make at the moment. If I draw a bit of the ire, I can put up with that. But I’m no different to the average person. It’s not nice, particularly for friends and family,” Ratcliffe said.
“So, eventually, if it reached the extent that the Glazer family have been abused, then I’d have to say, look, enough’s enough guys, let somebody else do this. They can’t really come to a match, the Glazers. They’ve retreated into the shadows a bit now, so I’m getting all the bloody stick. We bought in and I haven’t seen them since. It’s, ‘Thank you, Jim, you’re doing a really good job’.”
Man United chances of season resurrection
Currently sat in 14th, any positive results between now and the end of the season will be a huge boost for United. The Red Devils are up against Leicester City next in the Premier League, followed by a busy April featuring meetings with the likes of Nottingham Forest and Manchester City.
United are still in the Europa League, too, which could bring a turn of fortune. Amorim’s side will need to get the better of Lyon in order to progress to the semi-finals. The first leg of the quarters will take place at the Groupama Stadium on April 10th, before the Old Trafford clash six days later.
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