Sir Jim Ratcliffe calls out Liverpool and Man City in first interview since Man Utd buy-in | Football | Sport

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has branded Liverpool and Manchester City ‘the enemy’ in his first interview since purchasing just over a quarter of Manchester United. The petrochemicals billionaire insists the Red Devils need to channel the ultra-competitive spirit of legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson if they are to fight their way back to the top of the Premier League.

Sir Jim is set to have huge influence behind the scenes at Old Trafford after assuming control of United’s sporting operation from the Glazers. The 71-year-old and his team of INEOS specialists will also be consulted on business matters after their minority buy-in was signed and sealed on Tuesday.

Not only will Sir Jim be looking inward to see what United could be doing better, but he also believes lessons can be learned from Liverpool and City – two local rivals he is desperate to ‘knock off their perch’.

“We have a lot to learn from our noisy neighbour [City] and the other neighbour [Liverpool],” admitted Sir Jim. “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. [Sir Alex] 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. 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.”

City and Liverpool have won the past six Premier League titles between them, while United are yet to clinch English football’s top prize since Sir Alex’s final campaign in 2012/13. Sir Jim is set to reshuffle those making the decisions at Old Trafford in a bid to catch up.

The Red Devils have pinched Omar Berrada from Man City to become their new CEO. They have also approached Dan Ashworth to become their new sporting director, with the 52-year-old immediately placed on gardening leave by Newcastle United after asking to depart.

All eyes will be on Sir Jim this summer when he oversees his first transfer window with the Red Devils. United have spent heavily on new recruits in recent years without making significant ground on their Premier League rivals.

Financial Fair Play restrictions are set to keep INEOS’ billions on a tight leash. But manager Erik ten Hag will hope Sir Jim puts together a more effective framework behind the scenes, as the mission to catch United’s two noisy neighbours gets underway.