OGC Nice manager Franck Haise has responded to Sir Jim Ratcliffe's criticism of the French Ligue 1 club, while urging focus on progress despite the comments.
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Ineos founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is seemingly in trouble with OGC Nice, a club he co-owns.
(Image: PA)
OGC Nice manager Franck Haise has hit back at Sir Jim Ratcliffe after the co-owner of the French club stated he didn't enjoy watching them play.
Manchester United weren't the first football club venture for Ineos. The petrochemical company's founder - and chairman - Ratcliffe already had minority stakes in Ligue 1 outfit Nice and Swiss Super League team FC Lausanne-Sport when he stepped on board at Old Trafford in December 2023.
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The 72-year-old billionaire has endured a difficult first year or so as co-owner at United. He has closed down the staff canteen, shut off funding to a United club charity that supported former players, who couldn't live off their previous wages, and cut around 450 jobs.
Ratcliffe isn't only causing a stir in Manchester, though - especially after some eye-catching comments made on Nice. He told The Times this month: "I don't particularly enjoy going to watch Nice because there are some good players, but the level of football is not high enough for me to get excited."
Haise, manager of the French side, has now responded to Ratcliffe's comments - during a press conference where he said: "The article that [the comments] appeared in was a lot more complete than that. But he hasn't seen a Nice match this season. He's speaking a bit more about what he saw at another time.
Franck Haise joined OGC Nice in 2024 from fellow Ligue 1 club Lens.
Franck Haise joined OGC Nice in 2024 from fellow Ligue 1 club Lens.
"With the people who are here at the club, we are here to make the club progress in order to be even better."
He went on to add: "It's not that serious. We can be annoyed, that's obvious.
"But is it really worth staying annoyed for a long time? We have got to keep working, enjoying ourselves and we have got to be doing the best possible. We have to move on and continue on our path."
Based on United and Nice's current seasons, Haise is likely right when he says Ratcliffe's comments relate to the French club's previous campaigns. Le Gym currently sit fourth in Ligue 1 - a Champions League qualification place. Although the league title is likely out of their reach, a guaranteed Champions League spot is within their grasp. They are level on points with third-placed AS Monaco - who are only ahead of them due to having won one more game than Haise's squad in Ligue 1.
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