Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has spoken in glowing terms about the impact of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's involvement in the club, calling the billionaire an "inspiration" as he attempts to improve a season plagued by poor performances and reports of unrest at the underachieving Premier League giants.
Ratcliffe, who expects his INEOS group to complete a deal in mid-February to pay around $1.7 billion (£1.3bn) for a 25 percent stake in the club and a takeover of football operations, was pictured alongside Ten Hag at Old Trafford last week, with the under-pressure Dutchman describing lengthy talks between the pair as constructive.
Ten Hag's position has come under scrutiny as a consequence of a second year in charge that has fallen well short of supporters' expectations, including a dismal early exit from the UEFA Champions League and European competition, a tame Carabao Cup defence and a record of nine defeats from their first 20 league matches, leaving the 20-time champions eight points shy of fifth place.
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Sir Dave Brailsford, the former head of British Cycling, is known to have been analysing United's matches as part of his anticipated key role in Ratcliffe's plans, which may have little space for runs of the kind with which Ten Hag's side ended 2023.
Their 2-0 win to begin the year at third-tier Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup was only United's third in 10 matches in all competitions, including defeats against Newcastle United, Bournemouth, Bayern Munich, West Ham United and Nottingham Forest along the way.
Ratcliffe is expected to take a hands-on approach when it comes to transforming United's fortunes on the pitch, and a report from Football Transfers on January 9 suggested that could even see him inject some of his personal fortune into the club to ease any concerns around financial fair play and boost their spending power.
"Everyone is optimistic," Ten Hag told ITV Sport, speaking after a result that was unusually routine in the context of a season that has yielded one Premier League win by more than one goal.
"It is an inspiration. There is a lot of work to do. In the summer we were in a good way but it is a journey, it is a project."
Ten Hag appeared again to be alluding to United's injury problems and inconsistent form when he said the squad had dealt with "setbacks", adding that they would "keep alive, survive it and strike back".
The former Ajax manager said no other side would have coped with his absentee list after United's 2-1 loss at Forest on December 30, when he was again without the likes of defenders Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire and midfielder Mason Mount.
For the Wigan match, United were without 12 senior players due to injury, illness, international duty or, in Jadon Sancho's case, an internal disciplinary issue that is expected to end with him joining Borussia Dortmund on loan this month.
However, critics of Ten Hag argue that United have adapted less well to losing stars than other depleted squads in the Premier League.
Tottenham, who United host in the top flight on Sunday, have been affected by injuries to influential players such as James Maddison, Manor Solomon and Cristian Romero but have remained firmly in contention for Champions League qualification.
One of the players Ten Hag does have available, Diogo Dalot, claimed Ratcliffe's investment had lifted the mood at United's Carrington training ground.
Dalot's long-range strike put United ahead against Wigan before one of his Portugal teammates, Bruno Fernandes, struck a penalty after the interval to seal their place in the Fourth Round with a 2-0 victory.
"It brings some good energy; new energy, hopefully with positive feelings," Dalot said when he was asked about Ratcliffe.
"There are a lot of things to conquer. We're looking to the future with good energy. They are bringing that. You can feel at Carrington the motivation they have brought in. Hopefully, we can win a lot of things together."
