Sir Jim Ratcliffe makes bold Ferguson promise that will infuriate Liverpool fans

21 February 2024 , 16:30

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Sir Jim Ratcliffe (left) with former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson (Image: PA)

Sir Jim Ratcliffe will follow Sir Alex Ferguson’s mantra and look to knock Manchester United's bitter rivals, City and Liverpool, “off their perch”.

The British billionaire has completed his deal to purchase a 25 per cent stake in United for £1.3bn. And having been handed control of football operations at Old Trafford, he has made clear that he wants the 20-time English champions to dominate the Premier League once again.

United haven’t won a league title since Ferguson’s final season over a decade ago, with a series of false dawns under the Glazers ultimately leading nowhere.

In stark contrast, City and Liverpool have won the last six Premier League titles between them, are fighting, along with Arsenal, to win this year’s crown, and have both also won the Champions League in the last five years - each reaching multiple finals too.

Now Ratcliffe has insisted that the duo’s period of dominance must end, stating that he’s had enough of seeing United left in the rear view of two clubs he regards as the “enemy”, and making clear he wants his future United side to do what Fergie managed during his illustrious tenure.

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The new United co-owner said: "We have a lot to learn from our noisy neighbour (City) and the other neighbour (Liverpool).

"They are the enemy at the end of the day. There is nothing I would like better than to knock both of them from their perch. He (Fergie) was the first one who came out with that expression. I am in the same place as Alex - 100 per cent.

"He was fiercely competitive and that is why he was successful. We have to be the same."

Will Erik ten Hag be the man to execute Sir Jim Ratcliffe's vision? (Manchester United via Getty Imag)

Ratcliffe also admitted that the Red Devils can learn from the duo in how they have built themselves to be successful, with the hiring of Omar Berrada as the club’s new CEO and potentially Dan Ashworth as the club’s new sporting director, seen as the first steps.

He added: "They have been in a good place for a while, and there are things we can learn from both of them. They have sensible organisations, great people within the organisations, a good, driven and elite environment that they work in.

"I am very respectful of them - but they are still the enemy."

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Jeremy Cross