Erik ten Hag has stated that Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s new Manchester United structure has put the club in a very strong position to “attack” the challenge of winning the Premier League and European titles.
Ratcliffe became United’s largest minority owner in February, taking control of football policy, and the Ineos owner has appointed Dan Ashworth as sporting director and Jason Wilcox as technical director.
United’s last championship was 11 years ago and next season they are in the Europa League after their lowest Premier League finish of eighth. Although Ten Hag suggested a credible title challenge may not occur next term, he welcomed the new structure.
“With the new ownership coming in, they can help us,” he said. “They are very supportive. We’ve made a process, which we’ve constructed across the summer and we are in a very strong position to go and attack.”
Last season’s FA Cup triumph followed Ten Hag guiding United to Carabao Cup victory in his opening campaign and he is clear the team can improve.
“A lot, because we won an FA Cup, we won a Carabao Cup, but also we have high expectations,” the manager told MUTV. “We know it doesn’t come overnight – we have to work for it. We are highly ambitious, so we have to raise our standards day by day, and improve every day.
“We are up for more and for higher titles, like the English title and even more, like going into Europe. That’s a process that takes time, and we’ll work on it, but I know with the setup at the club, with the changes to the structure, and the changes to infrastructure here around Carrington [training centre], we will be ready for the future. You feel it here, it gives a new energy, it gives a new dynamic and that will help us to achieve our targets. In the short term, it stays the same: we want to win every game, and we have seen we are capable of beating everyone.”
Work on Carrington may last all of next season. “We really have something to look forward to and that will be the best training ground in English football, but the most important is now,” Ten Hag said. “We live today and they did a great job to make this work and make this facility work to a professional condition, so we can work professionally. Four weeks ago here it was chaotic; now it’s set up so professionally.”
