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SIR JIM RATCLIFFE says sticking by Erik ten Hag last summer was a “mistake”.Manchester United’s co-owner apologised to fans for keeping the Dutch boss despite their worst league finish for 34 YEARS.Sticking by Erik ten Hag last summer was a mistake, according to Sir Jim RatcliffeCredit: AlamySir Jim Ratcliffe has apologised for the ‘errors’Credit: GettyHe also admitted it was an error bringing in sporting director Dan Ashworth.Ten Hag was given a one-year deal following a post-season review, after winning the FA Cup and finishing eighth.He was then sacked ten Prem games into this campaign, with United down in 14th.It cost the club £21.4million to get rid of him and hire Ruben Amorim as boss. Ashworth left in December after just five months, costing another £4.1m.READ MORE ON MAN UTDRatcliffe, 72, said: “Those decisions were errors. There were some mitigating circumstances, but they were errors. I accept that and apologise.“It wasn’t just the FA Cup final. The fans were of the view that we’d like to stick with him.“With Erik, there was an emotional response. We get criticised for being unemotional and there was a bit of emotion with that.“If you look at the time we made the decision about Erik, the management team hadn’t been in place more than five minutes.Most read in FootballCheltenham Festival betting offers and free betsRatcliffe has also claimed that appointing Dan Ashworth was a mistakeCredit: PA“It became clearer three months later. We corrected it and are in a different place today.”Ratcliffe has also insisted that while Amorim is “not perfect” he is the right man to lead the club forward.Ten Hag reveals problem with current players in first interview since Man Utd sackingHe told The Times: “I really, really like Ruben. He’s a very thoughtful guy. Every time I go to the training ground, I speak to Ruben.”I sit down and have a cup of coffee with him and tell him where it’s going wrong, and he tells me to f*** off. I like him.”Man Utd ratings vs Arsenal as De Ligt shows exactly why Man Utd signed him but Zirkzee is as frustrating as everIT was a performance that would have pleased Ruben Amorim but a 1-1 draw with Arsenal does little to paper over the cracks at Manchester United.On a day when the Old Trafford crowd protested the owners, the players stood up to show their remains life in a club that fans say is experiencing a “slow death”.There was a lack of clear-cut chances in the opening 45 minutes as both sides goalscoring troubles continued.A moment of magic was needed and Fernandes stepped up as he so often does.Arsenal’s wall was full of man mountains, but Fernandes found the power, dip and accuracy to beat David Raya with his free-kick – even if the wall was marched 11.2 yards back instead of the regulated ten.Mikel Arteta’s side came out swinging in the second-half with their makeshift No9 up top, and it took a brilliant effort from Declan Rice to level the scores.United were able to frustrate them and remain a threat on the counter but eventually had to settle for a point in a much-improved performance.Here is how SunSport’s Martin Blackburn rated the United performances. More

MANCHESTER UNITED co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has issued his verdict on head coach Ruben Amorim amid the club’s poor run of form.The Red Devils currently sit 14th in the Premier League table with just 34 points from 28 games.Sir Jim Ratcliffe insists Ruben Amorim is the right man for the job at Man UtdCredit: PAAmorim has managed just 11 wins since joining United in NovemberCredit: ReutersSince Amorim arrived four months ago they have managed just 11 wins in 26 outings.However, United chief Ratcliffe insists he is still the right man for the job – despite the rocky start.The British billionaire told the Times: “I think he’s done a great job in the circumstances, frankly, with the squad that he’s had available. The fact he came in mid-season.”Everybody expects miracles overnight. It’s not the way, not real life in my view. I mean, you saw the performance yesterday [Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal].read more on Man Utd”It was, I thought, a really impressive performance. They could not have worked harder. They couldn’t have been more committed.”And if you looked at the names on the bench, there weren’t many you recognised, were there? Half the squad’s missing for Ruben.”If you look at the top eight players in terms of salaries in Manchester United, 50 per cent of those are not available to Ruben.”You’ve got Mason Mount, you’ve got Luke Shaw, Marcus Rashford has gone, and Jadon Sancho. And he’s got a bunch of other injuries as you know, so I think he’s done a fantastic job.Most read in FootballCheltenham Festival betting offers and free bets”I think coaches are emotional and Ruben’s no exception to that. And he’s a young coach. And he’s not perfect. You know, he’s not a guy who… he’s got to be good on the stage, but we want him to be good on the grass. And part of that is life on the stage, isn’t it?”You know, you’re a young guy, you’ve come into the Premier League for the first time in your life, you’ve come in mid-season, it’s not your natural language.Roy Keane fears Man Utd will get WORSE and reveals biggest red flag that could spell the end for Ruben Amorim”You have to give the guy a bit of a break. I mean, give me a hard time, I have no problem with that. But give Ruben a break. I think he’s a good guy, he’s working hard and I think he’s doing a great job.”Asked if he thinks Amorim is the man to lead Man Utd back to glory, Ratcliffe concluded: “Yeah I do, honestly.”I really, really like Ruben. He’s a very thoughtful guy. Every time I go to the training ground, I speak to Ruben.”I sit down and have a cup of coffee with him and tell him where it’s going wrong, and he tells me to f*** off. I like him.”Ratcliffe also took part in a chat with the BBC where he admitted that some United players are “overpaid” and he defended his controversial cost-cutting tactics.Man Utd ratings vs Arsenal as De Ligt shows exactly why Red Devils signed him but Zirkzee is as frustrating as everIT was a performance that would have pleased Ruben Amorim but a 1-1 draw with Arsenal does little to paper over the cracks at Manchester United.On a day when the Old Trafford crowd protested the owners, the players stood up to show their remains life in a club that fans say is experiencing a “slow death”.There was a lack of clear-cut chances in the opening 45 minutes as both sides goalscoring troubles continued.A moment of magic was needed and Fernandes stepped up as he so often does.Arsenal’s wall was full of man mountains, but Fernandes found the power, dip and accuracy to beat David Raya with his free-kick – even if the wall was marched 11.2 yards back instead of the regulated ten.Mikel Arteta’s side came out swinging in the second-half with their makeshift No9 up top, and it took a brilliant effort from Declan Rice to level the scores.United were able to frustrate them and remain a threat on the counter but eventually had to settle for a point in a much-improved performance.Here is how SunSport’s Martin Blackburn rated the United performances. More