- Sir Jim Ratcliffe met players and staff at Carrington and Old Trafford last week
- Diogo Dalot was impressed with the energy that the INEOS billionaire brought
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Sir Jim Ratcliffe has already uplifted Manchester United with ‘new energy’ and ‘positive feelings’, according to Diogo Dalot.
The full-back believes that the INEOS billionaire has revived the feeling of motivation at their Carrington training centre after his visit last week.
Dalot scored the opening goal on Monday night as United won 2-0 at Wigan in the third round of the FA Cup, with Bruno Fernandes adding the second from the penalty spot.
Ratcliffe’s 25 per cent stake in the club is awaiting approval from the Premier League but he has wasted no time in meeting Erik ten Hag, players, and staff at Old Trafford and Carrington.
‘He brings some good energy, new energy, hopefully with positive feelings. New things to conquer, looking forward to the future with a good energy and they are bringing that,’ Dalot said.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has brought nerwfound ‘energy’ and ‘positive feelings’ to Manchester United, says Diogo Dalot
Dalot scored a fine goal as United beat Wigan 2-0 and complimented Ratcliffe afterwards
‘You can feel in Carrington already the motivation they’ve brought in and hopefully we can win a lot of things together.’
Ratcliffe and INEOS sport director Sir Dave Brailsford will oversee football operations as they bid to resurrect the club’s ailing fortunes.
Staff commented that his meetings with them were the first time they had had interactions with the club’s top brass since the Glazers took over in 2005.
Criticisms over how the Glazers, often distant and hands-off, have run the club have abounded for years, with tensions rife with fans and Old Trafford in need of a revamp.
Their last Premier League title was in 2013 and with years of failed investment, hope has been diminished at a club whose hopes of even qualifying for Europe this season are slimming.
United sit eighth in the top flight and crashed out of their Champions League group in last place, despite a relatively forgiving draw of Bayern Munich, Copenhagen, and Galatasaray.
Ratcliffe has been on a charm offensive, meeting players and staff at United’s training ground and Old Trafford
January is seen as something of an audition for Ten Hag to keep his job as the new football operations supremons under Ratcliffe swoop in.
The Dutchman has insisted that form will improve with key players coming back into the fold from injury, with Casemiro, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Mason Mount, and Tyrell Malacia due back from longer-term absences.
They were beaten 21 times in 2023 , making it the fourth-worst in the club’s 146 years of existence.
They started 2024 in the right vein with the 2-0 win over Wigan , registering 33 shots, but no worse would have been expected against an average League One side.
