In a recent interview with _The Sunday Times_, Sir Jim Ratcliffe elaborated on his roles as a majority owner of Manchester United and the French club Nice.

His remarks come at a time when Manchester United is grappling with significant challenges, including a disappointing league position, financial difficulties, and a rocky start to the season under new management.

The club has faced scrutiny over regulatory pressures, indicating a slow road to recovery.

Ratcliffe acknowledged the current turbulence at Manchester United, stating, "It can be unpleasant.

And I have probably failed in terms of enjoyment.

I don’t care about being unpopular because I understand that no one likes seeing Manchester United in its current situation, and no one likes the decisions we have to make right now."

Since Ratcliffe’s involvement, the visibility of the club’s majority owners, the Glazer family, has declined significantly, placing more scrutiny on Ratcliffe himself.

He noted, "So it’s me who takes all the heat." He recognized the unique pressures that come with managing a club of Manchester United’s stature.

Despite the challenges, Ratcliffe has articulated the reasons for his continued involvement, distancing his motivations from financial gain.

He reflected on his childhood dream of owning United but emphasized that his ventures in the chemical, oil, and gas industries have provided him sufficient wealth.

Ratcliffe clarified, "It’s not about where I come from.

The experience at Nice, in Ligue 1, allows for club purchases at significantly lower costs.

However, I don’t particularly enjoy watching Nice play because, while they have good players, the overall level of football does not excite me."

In his analysis, Ratcliffe attributed Manchester United’s struggles to a neglectful ownership strategy over the past 12 years, stating that the owners failed to balance financial management with the importance of sports performance.

He reiterated, "They should have found the best general manager and the best coach in the world because Manchester United is the best club in the world.

But they went wrong on both counts."

Furthermore, Ratcliffe noted that United has lagged in utilizing data analytics effectively, a strategy that smaller clubs have recently adopted to enhance player investment decisions.

Looking ahead, Ratcliffe expressed optimism about developing a strategic management team and laying a solid foundation for the club.

He emphasized that this year will involve making tough decisions, including staff layoffs, which he sees as vital for future recruitment.

"We could have a beautiful stadium, but if recruitment is not handled well, we will not win football matches," he remarked.

Reflecting on lessons learned from his tenure at Nice, Ratcliffe noted that the club performed better during a season when management intervention was limited due to multi-club ownership rules.

He stated, "They were much better without our interference! Maybe there’s a lesson in there, you know."

Ratcliffe concluded by expressing his belief in the team's capabilities, asserting, "I sincerely believe in the things we are doing, and I think we have the right people in place.

I don’t think we will succeed without making more mistakes because we are not perfect, but I believe the trajectory will start to improve after the summer."

Addressing potential failures, Ratcliffe stated, "If I fail, I will step away.

But I do not believe I will fail.

Once we start playing good football and winning, things will change."