SIR JIM RATCLIFFE had his head in his hands as he watched Manchester United throw away two leads, and two points, against Tottenham.
New Red Devils co-owner Ratcliffe attended his first Manchester United game since buying 25 per cent of the club for £1.03billion and taking over football operations.
9Sir Jim Ratcliffe couldn’t watch as Man Utd threw away the lead twice vs SpursCredit: Rex
9Ratcliffe watched on from the stands alongside Sir Alex FergusonCredit: PA
9Ratcliffe arrived at Old Trafford for his first game since the announcement of his takeoverCredit: Rex
9The British billionaire spoke to the press inside the groundCredit: Getty
United strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford scored crackers but fifth-placed Spurs levelled twice to deny Sir Jim — sat next to icon Sir Alex Ferguson — the perfect Old Trafford tonic.
But boss Erik ten Hag told the club’s new football chief: You’ve seen a team of fighters.
The Dutch coach said: “He will have seen two great goals and a team fighting for each other and trying to get a win.
“The attitude and spirit was great, we fought and gave everything.
“The fans were behind us and it was a great game for everyone to see, not just United fans, because there was a great tempo.”
Ten Hag accused his United side of soft defending as the Red Devils lie seventh in the Prem and eight points off the Champions League spots.
Hojlund struck in the third minute but Ratcliffe’s pre-match claim that United ‘normally do well against Spurs’ did not play out as Richarlison levelled with a flicked header from a corner.
9Sir Dave Brailsford was also in attendance with RatcliffeCredit: Reuters
9Sir Jim Ratcliffe has already met with Red Devils manager Erik ten HagCredit: Getty
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Marcus Rashford slotted United back ahead just before the break but Rodrigo Bentancur hit a second equaliser 50 seconds into the second half,
Ten Hag said: “I am quite disappointed, when you go ahead twice and then concede two soft goals it is frustrating.”
Ineos cheif and boyhood Red Devils fan Ratcliffe expects his deal to be ratified by the Premier League early next month.
When asked if the deal was the most exciting he had done, he replied: “Correct. Yes.”
He added: “We hope they don’t find anything dodgy in our CV.
“It’s the first match for me since we got here. It’s taken a few turns as you know but these things take some doing.
“I am very excited to be here but I can’t answer any questions really.”
Sir Jim has been involved in elite sport with cycling, sailing and with Nice in Ligue 1.
But he said this was undoubtedly the most exciting thing he has been involved in, having first set his eyes on United “two or three years ago”.
The billionaire said “I have done a few exciting things but this caps it all there is no question about that.
He has already had meetings with manager Erik ten Hag but would not expand on what was said.
He said: “I have met Erik but it would inappropriate to say anything, until it is all formalised.”
Ten Hag, who saw his team have only 36 per cent possession, believed they were denied a clear 32nd-minute penalty when Spurs defender Destiny Udogie appeared to haul Alejandro Garnacho down.
The Dutchman says it is not the first time they have fallen foul of VAR, citing the Cristian Romero handball from a Garnacho shot in August’s 2-0 defeat at White Hart Lane.
He said: “What can you do? But I’m used to it, all season that is the case.
“At Spurs, it was similar, there was a clear handball from Romero.”
Ex-United captain Roy Keane was unhappy with Rashford’s celebration, where he appeared to tell critics to stop talking about his lack of goals.
Keane said: “He’s got no right to be upset, he’s not done the business.”
9Rasmus Hojlund put on a show for Ratcliffe in the first halfCredit: AFP
9Spurs fought back to share the spoils at Old Trafford