Erik ten Hag has told his Manchester United squad to show they match the ambition of Ineos as the club’s new minority owners continue to make their mark at Old Trafford.
Having poached Omar Berrada from Manchester City as chief executive, INEOS are now lining up a move for Newcastle United sporting director Dan Ashworth as part of an overhaul of the football structure at the club, which could also see changes made within recruitment.
There has been a feelgood factor around United since Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment into United was confirmed on Christmas Eve, with the club losing just one of the eight games since then, while they have won their last four in all competitions.
That run of form has moved Ten Hag’s side into the FA Cup fifth round and back into contention for a top-four finish, while the mood around the club has also shited, with Ratcliffe meeting staff and Sir Dave Brailsford, the Ineos head of sport, a regular visitor to Old Trafford and Carrington.
Ten Hag is embracing the ambition being shown by Ineos and wants the squad to show they can match that on the pitch as they seek to secure another season of Champions League football.
“You see and feel that ambition and it brings a mood and a spirit in this club, a mood and a spirit that belongs to this club. The players, the staff are very aligned with the ambitions of Ineos,” said Ten Hag.
“That’s why we are here, that’s why we’re playing for Manchester United, we want to win and we want to achieve the highest. We are very aligned, we have to make strategies and execute strategies to prove the ambitions.”
While the impact Ineos have made off the pitch has lifted staff at the club, Ten Hag believes that wouldn’t have been possible without the improved performances on the pitch, with United looking to maintain their recent run of form at Luton on Sunday.
“I think everything is always aligned with each other. We are a club, we are not an isolated department the first team but I think for the mood of the club it is very important that the first team is performing and getting the right results,” said Ten Hag.