Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to put his attendance record to the test this weekend as he jets in to watch his Manchester United team take on Chelsea.

Under-pressure boss Michael Carrick might view Ratcliffe as a bad omen for Saturday’s game. Since becoming minority shareholder at Old Trafford, Ratcliffe has visited Stamford Bridge twice - watching two defeats for Man Utd.

Following his investment in the club, Ratcliffe’s visits to watch Man Utd initially drew little joy - starting with a 2-2 draw at home to Tottenham.

That being said, he was in attendance at Wembley as the Red Devils squeezed past Coventry City in the FA Cup semi-final before celebrating with the team as they lifted the trophy over rivals Manchester City in the final.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe (second left) celebrates with Manchester United players after winning the 2024 FA Cup Final

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In recent visits to watch Man Utd, Ratcliffe would have been disappointed as he watched his side lose three of the last four games he has been in attendance for.

That run includes derby defeats at Old Trafford to Manchester City and Leeds, losses that sandwich a victory over Nottingham Forest in the final home game of last season.

Ratcliffe started 2026 by watching Carrick’s first game in charge, Man Utd beating noisy neighbours Man City 2-0 in January, before travelling to the Emirates to see soon-to-be champions Arsenal beaten 3-2 later the same month.

Fast forward to March and Ratcliffe was at St James’ Park to watch Manchester United slump to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Eddie Howe’s Newcastle - with the former Magpies boss now heavily linked to the manager’s role at Old Trafford.

During the final months of Ruben Amorim’s ill-fated spell as Man Utd boss, Ratcliffe might have been turned off by results he saw in the flesh.

After spectating another derby defeat to Man City at the start of September, losing 3-0 at the Etihad, Ratcliffe was a firsthand witness to victories over Chelsea and Brighton at Old Trafford.

He also followed Man Utd on the road, taking in the 2-2 draw away at Spurs in November 2025 before watching Amorim’s charges rip Premier League whipping boys Wolves apart 4-1.

When speculation surrounded the future of Amorim, the businessman was elsewhere. That was not the case when Erik ten Hag was in the final throes of his reign at Old Trafford.

In October 2024 Ratcliffe watched on at Villa Park as the Dutch manager could not find a way past Aston Villa, producing a 0-0 draw.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe (second from right) consoles Ruben Amorim after defeat in the Europa League final

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The stalemate with Villa was the second game of the 2024/25 season that Ratcliffe took in, having watched Man Utd’s fierce rivals Liverpool put three past the Red Devils without reply at Old Trafford in September.

During the early days of Amorim’s reign, the minority shareholder saw four wins in-person.

At the eighth attempt Ratcliffe finally saw a Premier League victory in the flesh, United batting away struggling Leicester City 3-0 at Old Trafford.

That victory was followed by a 2-1 win away in the Manchester derby, before a doomed Southampton team were dispatched 3-1 at home.

The final win during that run was a 1-0 defeat of Fulham at Old Trafford, where after the game Ratcliffe was accosted by fans angered by ticket prices.

Unsurprisingly, Ratcliffe stayed away for a few months, quickly becoming a bad luck charm for Man Utd. Draws with Arsenal and Lyon preceded a run of four visits that saw Manchester United lose each time - including the Europa League final in May. Following that loss, Ratcliffe nixed plans of watching the final day clash with Aston Villa.

Overall, Ratcliffe’s record watching Manchester United in person stands at 12 wins, seven draws, and 10 losses.