Gary Neville has suggested that Man Utd have found their current 7-game unbeaten form as a result of a stark warning issued by new director of football Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
The Red Devils made it 7 games unbeaten yesterday afternoon, when they dispatched Luton Town in an entertaining 2-1 back and forth at Kenilworth Road.
The decisive goals were scored within just 7 minutes, both placed in the back of the net by Rasmus Højlund, who found his mark just 40 seconds in to the match!
His second was completed just 7 minutes in, leaving the home side reeling early on from the new found Man Utd form.
Neutrals were rubbing their hands together as a Luton response just 7 minutes later looked to be setting up a goal fest in Bedfordshire. Sadly, despite a brilliant back and forth between the two sides, no more goals would be scored.
This latest victory takes Man Utd 6 points clear of Brighton, who currently occupy the 7th spot in the standings, and just 3 points behind 5th placed Tottenham.
Since Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s announcement of a 25% share and takeover of football operations on Christmas Eve, the club has secured victories over Wigan, Newport, Wolves, West Ham, Aston Villa (twice), and now Luton.
A draw with Tottenham in between makes it 7 games unbeaten for the Red Devils, with just a single loss to Nottingham Forest on their record since Ratcliffe’s involvement became official.
Gary Neville says Ratcliffe warning is to blame for new-found Man Utd form…
Now, former Man Utd right back Gary Neville has suggested that his side’s recent form has come as a direct result of a warning from the new director of football operations at the club.
Discussing United’s form on Sky Sports Super Sunday, Neville said:
“I think it might be a little bit of a coincidence that their fortunes begin to turn around as soon as Jim Ratcliffe actually comes in but you look back to their win over Aston Villa on Boxing Day and that was his ‘first game’ as it was given he was announced on Christmas Eve.”
“He’s gone in there and said: ‘I’m watching every single one of you lot because you’re all playing for your futures.”
Neville also went on to say that he feels Sir Jim’s involvement with the club would improve other areas of business for them, comparing the new director of football’s energy with that of their former employees under the Glazers.
“The more I think about it, the Glazers have just shown blind loyalty to people who have been really good to them over a long period of time.”
“Ed Woodward, he was at the club for ten-12 years before he became CEO working on the commercial side and they believed everything he said.”
“I said it about ten years ago but it was like they were playing Football Manager, just going around and picking out the best players in the world – [Angel] Di Maria, [Radamel] Falcao, [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic – and they basically played Football Manager for ten years with the club without having any serious people in there. It’s unbelievable.”
“The mood has changed. What the fans wanted, what everyone connected with Manchester United have called for was just some interference into the complete and utter tosh we’ve seen at that club for the last ten years and actually what’s happened is the boardroom has been completely disrupted and there’s a new energy in there.”
Whether or not Neville’s instinct is accurate remains to be seen as Ratcliffe finds his feet with Man Utd. The INEOS owner has already outlined his plans for his first £237 million spend at the club as a new era dawns for them.
