Manchester United launch Ratcliffe era with stirring win over Aston Villa

While players at his French club Nice enjoy a three-week winter break, Jim Ratcliffe deployed his right-hand man Dave Brailsford to Old Trafford in northern England on Tuesday night to see Manchester United play for the first time since Ratcliffe's billion-euro stake in the club was agreed.

Manchester United's Hannibal Mejbri (left) and goalscorer Rasmus Hojlund (right) celebrate after their team overturned a two-goal deficit to beat Aston Villa 3-2 at Old Trafford. REUTERS - CARL RECINE

Ratcliffe's deal with the Glazer family – who own the majority of United – was announced on December 24.

The 71-year-old, who acquired Nice in 2019 for 100 million euros – will own 25 percent of the 20-times English champions and gain control of football operations.

His arrival at the club has come with promises of fresh injections of cash into the stadium and infrastructure. Brailsford, 59, has worked at Nice as a performance director and is expected to play a significant role at United.

Just before the fixture against third-placed Aston Villa, Ratcliffe posted an image of himself on social media.

#ManchesterUnited pic.twitter.com/fDbGDd3MRz

— Sir Jim Ratcliffe (@SirJimratcliffe) December 26, 2023

He also sent a letter to the fans' group Manchester United Supporters Trust. 

"I believe we can bring sporting success on the pitch to complement the undoubted commercial success that the club has enjoyed," said the founder of the INEOS global chemical  company.

"It will require time and patience alongside rigour and the highest level of professional management.

"You are ambitious for Manchester United and so are we. There are no guarantees in sport, and change can inevitably take time but we are in it for the long term and together we want to help take Manchester United back to where the club belongs, at the very top of English, European and World Football. I take that responsibility very seriously."

United's players tapped into the air of optimism generated by Ratcliffe's investment with a stirring comeback from a two-goal deficit.

Alejandro Garnacho's second-half brace cancelled out John McGinn and Leander Dendoncker's first-half strikes for Aston Villa.

Rasmus Hojlund's first goal in the Premier League after 82 minutes proved to be United's winner.

Rasmus Hojlund scores his first Premier League goal! @ManUtd now lead 3-2 at Old Trafford 😱#MUNAVL pic.twitter.com/e35ycQMdus

— Premier League (@premierleague) December 26, 2023

The 20-year-old Dane had endured a barren spell of 1,027 minutes in the English top flight since his transfer from the Serie A club Atalanta last summer.

Erik ten Hag's side held on through 11 minutes of stoppage time to claim the victory and rise to sixth with 31 points after 19 games.

“I am very happy,” Hojland told broadcaster Amazon Prime. “I am the happiest man alive right now. You can see from the celebrations as well. 

“As the manager has said, before I have scored a few goals in the Champions League but of course it has been a while in the Premier League before scoring. Now I have got it, I hope I can just build on that and keep going.”

​​​Villa, coached by the former Paris Saint-Germain boss Unai Emery, missed their chance to go joint top with Liverpool who won 2-0 at Burnley on Tuesday afternoon.