A Big Sir Jim billboard, earlier. Photo: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images
A NEW DAWN IN OLD TRAFFORD?
Jim Ratcliffe, a multi-billionaire and Brexit patriot whose love for Britain ends just before he deigns to live there or pay taxes, was officially confirmed as a minority stakeholder in Manchester United earlier this week. The 71-year-old owner of petrochemical company Ineos has invested around £1.3 billion in a 27% stake, giving him and his team of trusted lieutenants the right to take on the day-to-day running of the business. club. After two decades of near-total silence from the Glazers, Ratcliffe's briefing to journalists was music to the ears of United supporters, not least because he made sure to tell them exactly what they had not heard for 19 years. In short, they are the Real because he is merely a custodian hoping to dethrone both Manchester City and Liverpool and thus restore a team of serial trophy winners who play reckless football that is fun to watch.
And furthermore, he will do this by hiring top performers who are the best in their field. "We have to find the best people in the world and make sure they have the right character and personality," he purred. "And create the right environment in which top athletes can be successful. All we're doing is trying to improve performance on the pitch." While all this talk was understandably catnip to fans, cynics with no connection to the club might be forgiven for thinking they're listening to someone who plays episodes of Jake Humphrey's podcast. Ratcliffe's talk about 'populating all the key roles with people who are the best in the class, 10 out of 10' is all well and good, but the fact that his right-hand man is Dave Brailsford would certainly be loud should sound alarm signals.
The man in charge of the most boring but crushingly dominant cycling team in the world when a digital, culture, media and sport committee concluded that their famous ethos of zero tolerance, transparency and responsibility was almost certainly a gang of old cobblers, Brailsford hasn't always done it . was particularly picky about who he put on the payroll, as long as results were achieved. Brailsford was found responsible for "inexcusable and unprofessional" failures by the aforementioned committee and has now been tasked with marching through the corridors and practice fields of Carrington taking notes and then reporting the findings to his fellow Knight of the Realm.
The story continues
Although Ratcliffe refused to get involved in Erik ten Hag's future, he was less coy when the subject of Mason Greenwood came up. "The process will be: understand the facts, not the hype, and then try to come to a fair decision based on values, which is basically whether he is a good guy or not," he said as part of a rambling response that may have led to quite a stir. a few of the club's fans are feeling a little green around the gills. Ratcliffe, who apparently moved to Monaco in 2020 for no reason other than he was of retirement age and fancied a bit of sun, also suggested the government should make a contribution of taxpayers' money towards a new stadium, which he is keen to do . will masquerade as 'financing for the north'. And when asked by the BBC's Dan Roan why a multi-billion dollar football club and its owners are entitled to public money that might be better spent elsewhere, Ratcliffe said: "It's not for me to have an opinion on that." to have," despite having just expressed his opinion about it at commendably daring length.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY
"The last minute is probably a bit of inexperience. Just be a bit more sensible - it's the 93rd minute, you look at the clock, it's 0-0... we've given a ball away twice on the edge of our penalty area and then he bends one into the top boxes. We gotta have a little bit of it [it] to watch the match, because if you can't win, then certainly don't lose - especially in a knockout match" - Declan Rice reflects on his team's 1-0 defeat in Porto in the first leg of the Big Cup- round of Arsenal.
FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS
Dethroning Manchester City and Liverpool (a la Alex Ferguson in 2002) will be far from a cakewalk for Jim Ratcliffe, the new noisy neighbor, simply because Erik ten Hag is clearly no Fergie. Maybe Ratcliffe should stick to metaphors about seagulls and sardines" - Adrian Irving.
I heard a rumor that Chelsea have offered £100 million for the Kane statue, provided they agree to a 100-year contract" - Martyn Shapter.
Send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today's winner of our Prizeless Letter of the Day is...John Catton.
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The latest Football Weekly Extra podcast is here for you, discussing Liverpool's scare, Arsenal's Big Cup slump and much more.
NEWS, BITS AND BOBS
Former Brazilian player Dani Alves has been sentenced to four years and six months in prison for the rape of a 23-year-old woman in a nightclub in Barcelona in December 2022. "This is over in our country, enough of machismo and sexual aggression that we women suffer in all walks of life," said Spanish Vice President Yolanda Díaz.
A coalition of Ukrainian human rights groups have written to Rishi Sunak, calling on him to "break the impasse" over the use of funds from the £2.5 billion sale of Roman Abramovich's Chelsea to help war victims in the country.
Torquay United drop to 18th in the National League South after being handed a 10-point penalty for going into administration.
Sarina Wiegman says England are working to find the right balance for player welfare amid the unforgiving international calendar. "We can't change it, so you try to do your best to take care of players and at the same time perform at the highest level and eliminate the risks of being [knacked]," she sighed.
Liverpool are four points clear of the Premier League leaders after coming from behind to beat Luton 4-1, and Jurgen Klopp is a relieved man. "We had to ignore the fact that we were 1-0 down and use the things that are good and improve the counter press. The second half was a thunderstorm. Wow," he ranted.
Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso is not buying into speculation linking him to Anfield, or anywhere else for that matter. "You may have questions about my future, but I have nothing new to say about that," he cooed. "It's normal to have questions, but that's not a problem for me."
The DFL 0-1 German football fans.
Manchester United's Luke Shaw is a sure bet for Euro 2024 after being sidelined by muscle flexing.
Celtic's former England goalkeeper Joe Hart, 67, will take a closer look at his career this summer. "Next season I won't be available to play football," he cheered. "So I want to take that off the table and then we can talk about why and then move on."
And Stoke City continues to live on the vida loca and lets technical director Ricky Martin through the door with the inscription Upside, Inside ... Out.
MOVING THE GOAL POSTS
Spain, which plays against the Netherlands in the semi-finals of the Nations League, is currently the best team in the world. The Swedish Magdalena Eriksson explains why in the latest edition of our sister email.
DO YOU WANT MORE?
Love your newest coach while you can - just don't expect him to love you back, sobs Max Rushden.
John Brewin picks the best performing players from the latest series of Big Cup knockout matches.
Louise Taylor on Sunderland's ongoing plight.
Jesse Lingard has the opportunity to make an impact in the physical K-League with FC Seoul, reports John Duerden.
In honor of Pascal Gross, the player who does it all for Brighton. By Ben McAleer.
And Sean Ingle looks at Big Sir Jim Ratcliffe's plans for Manchester United.
MEMORY LONG
To Wembley in August 1987 and a journey through eras, where Martin interviews Tyler Pelé before the Football League XI's match against a Rest of the World XI, part of the centenary celebrations. Pelé later presented a ceremonial trophy to Bryan Robson, who led the hosts to a 3-0 victory.