ERIK TEN HAG is confident incoming minority owners Ineos want to work with him despite admitting he has yet to speak to Manchester United’s new head of football operations.
The Old Trafford giants announced on Christmas Eve that a long-awaited deal has been reached for Jim Ratcliffe to buy a 25% stake in the Premier League club.
Ineos is taking responsibility for United’s footballing operations under the terms of a deal that is expected to take four to six weeks to receive regulatory approval.
Dave Brailsford, Ineos’ director of sport, was at Old Trafford on Boxing Day for the stunning 3-2 turnaround against Aston Villa, and Ten Hag says he will be speaking to the new minority owners soon.
“The schedule is so condensed so I didn’t have the time so far to speak with them, but it will come and I look forward (to it),” the United boss, who has been the subject of scrutiny and criticism this season, said.
“They want to work with me, I want to work with them. We will have the conversations, the meetings, so we will see.”
Asked if he is expecting Ineos to be a regular presence at United’s Carrington training base, Ten Hag said ahead of Saturday’s trip to Nottingham Forest: “I’m focused on the game so far.
“So, I said, no, in this moment I don’t want to have distractions but in the coming days, weeks, there will be time for this and then I know more.
“But I think it’s a good thing, it’s very positive and, as I said, we are looking really forward to work together.
“Ineos wants to work with me, in this structure, and I want to work with them.”
The United States Securities and Exchange Commission filing related to the deal contains a provision guaranteeing that Ineos will be consulted on football matters at United in the interim.
This includes “appointing, dismissing or accepting the resignation of any director of football or first team manager of the company” as well as entering into or continuing any discussion concerning the purchase or sale of any player.
“We always want to win and it doesn’t matter who is in the lead (of the club),” Ten Hag said.
“We are appointed here to win, so in this area we need a winning culture no matter who is in the lead, no matter who is the owner. But, of course, the owners can inspire you.”
