Olympic gold medal winner Ben Ainslie believes Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos will successfully turn around Manchester United’s fortunes, but it will take time.

Ainslie has worked closely with the organisation as part of their America’s Cup challenge, which has seen a British team qualify for the finals for the first time in 60 years.

And from that experience, the four-time Olympic champion is convinced Ratcliffe will succeed in his mission to make United competitive again.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Dave Brailsford watch Manchester United at Villa Park
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Dave Brailsford watch Manchester United at Villa Park (Nick Potts/PA)

“It’s a matter of time, and it’s not going to happen overnight,” he told Sky Sports News.

“We know football at the highest level as the Premier League is, it’s incredibly tough to be successful, but knowing Jim, knowing people like Dave Brailsford, the rest of the team that they’ve now bought in there to manage the team and take things forwards, they’ll get there.

“I would say, you know, give them time. It’s not not something that’s going to flick a switch and happen overnight, but it will happen.”

Britain’s attempt to wrestle the America’s Cup from New Zealand’s grasp begins at the weekend and Ainslie believes a first success would surpass anything he achieved in the Olympics, where he won gold at four successive Games.

“America’s Cup started 173 years ago and Britain’s never won it so it’s a big moment for British Sailing,” he added.

“The fact that Britain has never won it and we’re such a proud sporting and maritime nation, that’s the motivation for myself and the rest of the team.

“And absolutely, it would eclipse anything that I’ve been fortunate to experience at Olympic level because to have success with a team, far eclipses anything that you can achieve as an individual.”