Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola doesn't blame Sir Jim Ratcliffe for wanting to knock his team 'off their perch'.
Ratcliffe is determined to spearhead a revival at Old Trafford and Guardiola is confident that the glory days will return for the Red Devils.
United finally confirmed on Tuesday that Ratcliffe's purchase of 27.7 per cent of the club's shares had been ratified after a long-term sale process.
The British billionaire will be in charge of all footballing matters at the club and has also vowed to renovate the club's stadium or build a new one from scratch.
Man Utd news: Pep Guardiola has given his verdict on Sir Jim Ratcliffe at Man Utd
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Ratcliffe spoke to the media this week, where he outlined his desire to bring back success on the pitch.
The 71-year-old admitted that City are in the position United want to be, having won the treble last season.
Ratcliffe said: "They [City] are one of the best teams on the planet. We have a lot to learn from the noisy neighbour, and our other neighbour [Liverpool].
"They are the enemy at the end of the day and there's nothing I would like better than to knock both of them or one of them off their perch."
Guardiola says it is 'the truth' that rival teams strive to be in City's position following years of sustained success.
He believes comments such as Ratcliffe prove that United will soon 'be back'.
Guardiola said: "It is the truth. Teams admit it, they want to be closer to us and you can't deny the reality.
"When I've been below teams, I've always admired them and said 'what do you have to do to be close and challenge them?'. They are the really competitive people who you want to be.
"When you want to judge just for things that will feel comfortable for one day, they will not arrive where we are right now.
"When we were below and United were winning, we were watching them, admiring and learning from them with the period with Sir Alex Ferguson and all the generations.
"I'm sure Man City were admiring and wanting to be there and now we are.
"That's why for these types of comments, I had the feeling that they will be back."
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Man Utd news: Pep Guardiola believes Sir Jim Ratcliffe will succeed at United
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United have already appointed a new CEO, luring Omar Berrada from City who will start in the summer. They are also hoping to secure the services of Dan Ashworth as sporting director.
Guardiola is confident United will have the right people at the top but is not concerned about what it may mean for City
He said: "It is not about [being] worried. I'm pretty sure with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the other people, United are going to make a step forward.
"I have a feeling that they know exactly what they have to do, appoint the people they need to. His experience in the business world will make the project better.
Man Utd news: Sir Jim Ratcliffe is determined to bring back glory to United
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"But that is normal, all the teams want it. As long as I am here, we will try to be there again.
"I want my team, Man City, to be there, otherwise I don't care. Only under Jose Mourinho was there a period when they were second, maybe not close like Liverpool over many years.
"But I have always expected since I arrived that United would be there for history, for tradition, for many things. Why it didn't happen, I don't know the reason, but I guess they know it.
"But it's their business, not ours. We want to be there for ourselves."
