Mark: With the three members of staff that you brought in – Steve Holland, Jonathan Woodgate and Jonny Evans – how do you work as a four? Because there was a lot of attention on the people you brought in…
Michael: There’s Travis as well – Travis Binnion, who’s been here for a number of years now through the academy. And Craig Mawson – the goalkeeping coach. There’s a really strong group and it feels like we’ve been together a long time, but we didn’t all know each other. I didn’t really know Steve personally an awful lot. I thought it would come together nicely and was balanced and there’s a reason why I wanted to bring Steve in.
Jonathan… I had him at Middlesbrough – loyal, gets me, knows me, pushes me, challenges me… really good relationship. Jonny knew the club. He’s been here so long and has a really good relationship with the players as well… loves coaching, loves helping, cares a lot. And then with Travis… the club needs the academy. It’s a massive part of this football club.
I think there’s a really good balance with the responsibility of the academy, young players and then Jonathan and Jonny – being two of the best centre-backs you could come across in the last 20-25 years – to pass their information on.
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Steve – with his experience in so many ways… Chelsea, with change of managers and different styles of managers and top, top players, and England. All the staff are able to cope being around the environment and I think that’s so important.
Mark: And they challenge you? They tell you when you’re wrong?
Michael: For sure, yeah.
Mark: Not every manager would accept that.
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Michael: I can’t be right the whole time – it’s impossible. That’s why we’ve got a group of six in our office. We’ve all got strong opinions, but I think we all filter it and it’s important that we have a connection and understanding of what direction we want to go in. We have to push each other, for sure.
Mark: You mention the academy. What does the academy mean to you?
Michael: An awful lot. Listen, I’ve always kept that feeling of what it was like as a young player. It’s something I’ve always had an eye on and been passionate about. With the tradition of this football club, it’s natural to take that on. It’s just as proud a moment as any to give a young player their debut and there’s certainly a want – from not just me but all the staff and everyone at the club – to try and produce the young players and give them opportunities as much as we can.
Mark: A United academy player has always been in the first-team matchday squad since 1930-something, isn’t it? Is that a sense of pride? How much can it become a slight millstone if you would be the one that breaks that run?
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Michael: Huge sense of pride on behalf of the whole football club, I think. It’s really outstanding to have for such a long period of time and it’s something we need to hold on to. It’s what this football club is built upon really, and has been for so many decades. So, yeah, I’m definitely well aware of it and we want to carry it on.
Mark: When you watch the academy and you’re watching the under-age teams as well… is the pipeline – and I’m not putting pressure on them – but is the academy in good health?
Michael: Yeah, I think it’s in great hands. I think it has been. I think historically here it’s kept producing players, year after year. We always hope for the next group or the next individual. There’s so much good work that goes into the academy.
We get carried away sometimes about the football and results. Where we’re at now, it’s wins and draws and losses that count in some ways. But it’s about developing young people and behaviours and helping them. There’s so many players from this club that have maybe not even made a debut here, but have moved on and had unbelievable careers in the game. And I think that’s something, again, that as a football club we’re really proud of.
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Mark: So, following on from the academy chat, there’s been so much noise around Kobbie Mainoo this season… and not featuring, and now he’s featured all the time under you. What did you see when you first got to work with him? Mentally, how was he and how have you got to where he is at the moment?
Michael: I’ve known Kobbie a long time. I started working with him when I think he was 13 or 14, when I was starting to do my coaching badges – a good few years ago. Just little bits. And then, obviously, when I was here the first time, he was in and around a little bit.
So I think knowing him and having experience with him and seeing him perform at such a level on such big occasions… I said earlier about coaches being able to cope with being here and at the level to deal with it. What Kobbie’s done at such a young age is quite incredible really.
We forget how young he still is. I was just a big fan of watching him play and knowing what he was capable of. So it wasn’t really a big decision to play him. And, to be fair, it’s not easy when you haven’t played to find your rhythm and find your form.
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There’s things he can get better at, things he can improve on, but we haven’t really got started on any of that because we’re just letting him go and find his flow and find his rhythm of playing football again. I’ve been really conscious of not giving him an awful lot – a couple of little pointers, a bit of positional things and some little bits here and there – but trust in what he is. He’s a fantastic footballer and he’s got a huge talent.
Mark: It sounds, in many ways, that you rely on on the human being side of things rather than – I don’t mean this in a disparaging way – rather than a flipchart.
Michael: I like being around people. I like to share things. I’m not one that would be an individual as such and I don’t promote the fact that I’ve got all the answers. I’m quite happy to discuss that. I think getting the best out of people – whether that’s in the industry of TV or in the industry of sport or business… I think treating people with respect. I think that whatever it is, the technical side, tactical side, we can get better at all that, but if you haven’t got a connection and that buy-in and that willingness to want to come with you and follow you, then all the other bits kind of lose their value and you don’t get to fulfil all that potential. So I see it as a massive, massive thing to get that connection with people.
Mark: Do you shout at them?
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Michael: I haven’t yet, no. There’s a time for all sorts of emotions and that’s the beauty of being in this position – you’ve got to pick the right time and tap on the right kinds of buttons to get the right reactions.
Mark: When you witnessed the hairdryer [which Sir Alex Ferguson’s fiery outbursts became known as] were you like: ‘Crikey’?
Michael: Yeah, I’m not sure I could replicate that! I wouldn’t try to! A couple of times I’ve seen it and it puts you at the back of your seat, trying to get further away from it. But, again, you’re talking about Sir Alex and he was the genius at using people and getting the best out of people in so many different ways – support, pushing, a bit stronger than pushing at times – but it worked. It was all about getting the best out of his players.
Two-division world champion Tim Bradley has offered a no holds barred take on Saturday’s showdown between Mario Barrios and Ryan Garcia, believing that it should be an easy night’s work for the underdog.
Barrios has held the WBC welterweight world title since June 2024, but he has not won a world title contest in six and a half years, dating back to his WBA super-lightweight world title win against Botirzhon Akhmedov on the Spence-Porter undercard.
Since being upgraded to full champion at 147lbs, ‘El Azteca’ has defended the belt twice but he has done so solely via draws, coming away from his clash with Abel Ramos with a split-draw, before his majority-draw against Manny Pacquiao last year.
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The 30-year-old has opted to appoint Joe Goossen as his new lead trainer as he gears up for this major main event with Garcia, who Goossen trained for three fights, including his first career defeat to Gervonta Davis in April 2023.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Bradley revealed that he will be questioning the quality of both Barrios and Goossen if they fail to overcome ‘fake trash’ Garcia this weekend.
“Mario Barrios, if you don’t get this done, man, damn. This should be easy for you, easy.
“[Joe] Goossen, if you don’t get this done, you worked with this man, Ryan Garcia, you worked side-by-side with this man for several fights. If you don’t get this done with Mario Barrios, you are a sorry a** trainer too.”
“Ryan Garcia is fake trash. Doo-doo butter. Yeah, Ryan, you trash. You ain’t got no right hand, you take your left hand away and it is over with.”
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“All it takes is somebody that is tough, somebody that is smart. Take that left hand away from your a** and you are done, bro. Put your a** in that scary [Philly] shell, where you turn your back? You are done, my boy. You ain’t got no boxing skills, no real skills.”
Kwara United have been fined a total of ₦12 million and deducted three points and three goals following crowd trouble during their Nigeria Premier Football League match against Rivers United. The incident happened after the rescheduled Matchday 22 game played on Wednesday, 18 February 2026, at the Kwara State Stadium in Ilorin.
The league body said Kwara United failed to provide adequate security, which allowed unauthorised persons to enter restricted areas. The club was also found guilty of failing to control their supporters, who harassed and assaulted match officials and Rivers United officials. The league said the actions caused bodily harm and brought the game into disrepute.
As part of the sanctions, Kwara United were fined ₦2 million for poor security, ₦1 million for failing to control supporters, ₦2 million for the assault on officials, ₦1 million for unsporting behaviour, ₦1 million for holding officials for several hours after the match, and ₦2 million as compensation for treatment and damages. In addition, three points and three goals have been deducted from their season tally.
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The club will also play their remaining home matches at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta. They have been directed to identify the supporters involved in the assaults for arrest and prosecution and must provide proof of compliance. Kwara United have 48 hours to appeal the sanctions.
Detroit boxing legend Thomas Hearns has reflected on his fights with his fellow Four Kings and named which contest inflicted the most damage on him.
Hearns made history when he became boxing’s first five-division world champion, but the ‘Motor City Cobra’ is praised for his iconic showdowns against Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran and Marvin Hagler, as much as his personal accolades.
Speaking with Marko Boxing, Hearns admitted that Leonard inflicted more damage on him than Hagler or Duran did.
“[Who gave me] the most trouble? I really didn’t have too much trouble with anybody but the biggest fight was probably the fight with me and Ray. Me and Ray had the biggest fight and we showed them.
“We did the most damage in the fight with me and Ray, than we did with anybody else.”
However, despite sharing 26 rounds with Leonard, Hearns admitted that Hagler gave him the best fight, regardless of the fact that their legendary tear-up lasted only three rounds.
“I have to give my dues to Marvin Hagler. Marvin Hagler gave me a great fight, I have to give him his credit. He gave me the best fight out of all the guys that I fought.”
Hearns continued to fight up until 2006, marking a near 30-year professional career that spanned between welterweight and cruiserweight, before retiring with a record of 61-5-1.
India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav, left, and Pakistan’s captain Salman Ali Agha (AP)
India’s blockbuster T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan on February 15 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad not only delivered fireworks on the field but also set staggering digital records off it. JioStar, the official digital and broadcast partner of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, announced that the fixture recorded an unprecedented digital reach of 163 million, making it the highest for any ICC T20 World Cup match, surpassing even the 2024 final between India and South Africa. The scintillating performance by the Men in Blue also contributed to a 56% growth in reach over the India-Pakistan clash during the 2024 edition. Fans tuned in for a whopping 20 billion minutes of total watch time across all screens, reflecting immense engagement.
Why Pakistan don’t trust Babar Azam any more | T20 World Cup 2026
On the field, India made a ruthless statement, comfortably defeating Pakistan by 61 runs to secure a place in the Super Eight stage unbeaten. After electing to field first, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha’s surprise move to bowl in the opening over produced an early wicket, dismissing Abhishek Sharma. But Ishan Kishan immediately turned the tide with a power-packed display, asserting dominance from the start. Pulling Shaheen Shah Afridi for a six on the first ball, Kishan continued to attack, supported by Tilak Varma as India racked up 52 for 1 after six overs, Kishan contributing 42 off just 25 balls.Kishan’s blitz extended beyond the powerplay, hitting a 27-ball fifty and ending with a brilliant 77 off 40 balls, before being dismissed by Saim Ayub. Pakistan relied heavily on spin, using six spinners in the innings—the most ever by a team in a T20 World Cup and joint-most by a Full Member in a T20I. Saim Ayub impressed, removing Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya and finishing with 3 wickets for 25 runs, nearly claiming a hat-trick. India closed their innings at 175 for 7, bolstered by contributions from Suryakumar Yadav (32), Shivam Dube (27), and Rinku Singh (11).Pakistan’s chase never gained traction. Hardik Pandya dismissed Shahibzada Farhan for a duck, followed by Saim Ayub and Jasprit Bumrah dismantling the middle order. Even Salman Ali Agha and Babar Azam faltered under pressure, while Usman Khan’s 44 off 34 balls was the only bright spark. India’s bowlers, led by Jasprit Bumrah (2/17), Axar Patel (2/29), and Varun Chakravarthy (2/16), ensured Pakistan was bowled out for 114 in 17.5 overs, sealing a one-sided victory.Brief Scores:India: 175/7 (Ishan Kishan 77, Suryakumar Yadav 32, Shivam Dube 27; Saim Ayub 3/25)Pakistan: 114 all out (Usman Khan 44; Jasprit Bumrah 2/17, Axar Patel 2/29, Varun Chakravarthy 2/16)
Former India opener Virender Sehwag has voiced reservations about India’s bowling strength as the team prepares for the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup. Led by Suryakumar Yadav, the defending champions cruised through the group phase, winning all four matches to advance comfortably.
India dominated Group A, which featured rivals Pakistan national cricket team among others, but Sehwag believes sterner examinations lie ahead. With an unbeaten South Africa national cricket team awaiting them in their opening Super 8 clash on Sunday, he pointed out that India’s bowling attack has not yet been fully tested.
“I don’t think India have been challenged yet. In the first match, India struggled a bit, but since then they have been playing consistent cricket. The real test will begin in the Super 8s. Today, India scored 193, but they also conceded 176. So India will have to look at their bowling. When we come up against a better batting side, how will this bowling unit respond and be used?” Sehwag said during a discussion on Cricbuzz.
India’s most recent outing saw them overcome the Netherlands national cricket team by 17 runs in Ahmedabad, after posting 193/6 and allowing the Dutch to reach 176/7 in reply.
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In the same conversation, former India pacer Mohit Sharma also weighed in on the debate surrounding India’s bowling composition, especially in the death overs.
“There is still doubt over which combination India will go with in the Super 8s. If you have an all-rounder like Axar Patel at No. 8, then who bowls at the death? If a team like the Netherlands can ask questions in the death overs, then bigger challenges are coming. If Arshdeep is there, you can be a little flexible since he can bowl alongside Bumrah at the death,” Mohit noted.
India’s Super 8 campaign begins against South Africa on February 22 in Ahmedabad. They will then travel to Chennai to face Zimbabwe before wrapping up the phase in Kolkata against the West Indies.
American-born Team China skier Eileen Gu responded to the global criticism she has received during the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
Her decision to compete for China despite being born in the U.S. has made her a target for Americans and others across the world, with Vice President JD Vance chiming in by saying he hopes athletes born here would “want to compete with the United States of America.”
“I’m flattered. Thanks, JD! That’s sweet,” Gu said of Vance’s comments, per USA Today.
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Gu was asked if she currently feels “like a bit of a punching bag for a certain strand of American politics” after her competition on Thursday.
Silver medalist Eileen Gu of China attends the award ceremony of the freestyle skiing women’s freeski big air event at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Livigno, Italy, Feb. 16, 2026. (Hongxiang/Xinhua via Getty Images)
“I do,” she said, per USA Today. “So many athletes compete for a different country. … People only have a problem with me doing it because they kind of lump China into this monolithic entity, and they just hate China. So it’s not really about what they think it’s about.
“And also, because I win. Like if I wasn’t doing well, I think that they probably wouldn’t care as much, and that’s OK for me. People are entitled to their opinions.”
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Gu has previously said she was “physically assaulted” for her decision to represent China.
“The police were called. I’ve had death threats. I’ve had my dorm robbed,” Gu told The Athletic. “I’ve gone through some things as a 22-year-old that I really think no one should ever have to endure, ever.”
Silver medalist Eileen Gu of China poses for photos after the awarding ceremony of the freestyle skiing women’s freeski big air event at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Livigno, Italy, Feb. 16, 2026.(Wang Peng/Xinhua via Getty Images)
Gu will compete in the women’s freestyle skiing halfpipe final on Thursday aftermwinning silvers in her first two events.
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It will be the climax of an Olympics defined by immense global criticism for Gu.
The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Gu and Zhu Yi, a fellow American-born figure skater who now competes for China, were paid a combined $6.6 million by the Beijing Municipal Sports Bureau in 2025 for “striving for excellent results in qualifying for the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics.” In all, the two were reportedly paid nearly $14 million over the past three years.
Vance weighed in on the controversy surrounding Gu in a Tuesday interview on Fox News’ “The Story With Martha MacCallum.”
(left) Team China skier Eileen Gu, (right) Vice President JD Vance(Getty Images)
“I certainly think that someone who grew up in the United States of America who benefited from our education system, from the freedoms and liberties that makes this country a great place, I would hope they want to compete with the United States of America,” Vance said on “The Story With Martha MacCallum.”
“So, I’m going to root for American athletes, I think part of that is people who identify themselves as Americans. That’s who I’m rooting for in this Olympics.”
Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens. Jackson’s reporting has been cited in federal government actions related to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) and head coach Kevin O’Connell connect on the field at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Aug. 10, 2024, sharing a brief exchange before kickoff against the Las Vegas Raiders. The moment captures the quarterback-coach dynamic during preseason preparations. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Sometimes athletes react well to geographical cures, and ESPN devoted an entire article this week to players who could benefit from a change of scenery. For the Minnesota Vikings, that man is none other than quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
ESPN’s angle puts McCarthy in the trade conversation, which turns heads because he’s only started 10 games in his career.
In an offseason when Minnesota will add another quarterback to compete with McCarthy or serve as backup insurance, ESPN’s Aaron Schatz says the man needs a new team altogether.
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ESPN’s Trade Chip Angle Hits the Vikings
It’s the “change of scenery” list.
Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy shares a postgame exchange with Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Dec. 7, 2025, following a tightly contested matchup. McCarthy’s visible emotion reflects the weight of late-season implications as Minnesota continued evaluating its young quarterback. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
ESPN Change-of-Scenery Candidate for MIN: J.J. McCarthy
All 32 teams received a mention by Schatz — players who should try their luck elsewhere.
On McCarthy, Schatz wrote, “This is likely never going to happen, because it would be ridiculous for the Vikings to unload a player who still has first-round upside after 10 starts. However, a fresh start for McCarthy with a different organization might be the best thing for his career.”
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“Yes, you want a young quarterback to be with an offensive mind such as Minnesota coach Kevin O’Connell for the purposes of his development. However, things went so badly for the Vikings with McCarthy last season that it might be best to get him out of the shadow of Super Bowl winner Sam Darnold.”
McCarthy’s head coach, Kevin O’Connell, once said that organizations fail young quarterbacks before young quarterbacks fail organizations, and with Schatz’s idea, O’Connell would fall victim to his own declaration.
This Would … Have to Mean a Trade
There’s no way the Vikings would release McCarthy, so the ESPN article implies a trade. That’s right: after two years with McCarthy in the roster orbit, Minnesota would have to mail it in, presumably opting for a surer thing at quarterback.
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Schatz noted on his criteria, “Change is coming to every NFL team. There will be moves made in free agency and the draft, of course, but there also will be unexpected trades and player cuts. So far this offseason, there have been rumors about top stars Maxx Crosby, Kyler Murray and A.J. Brown potentially moving on from their franchises. But more shocking moves are likely to come.”
“Every offseason, there are players who need a change of scenery for a variety of reasons. Some players just never quite develop and could benefit from a new coaching staff that might be able to unlock their potential. Some have worn out their welcome because of a lack of success on the field. Others just want to go to a winning team.”
The Vikings can control McCarthy’s contract for the next three years, and a change of scenery must include a trade, assuming McCarthy didn’t get into some kind of mind-blowing trouble that would mandate his release.
Where to Trade Him?
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Here’s the really fascinating aspect of Schatz’s theory — McCarthy’s landing spot. Which team would the Vikings do business with?
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) works through pregame drills at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, on Sep. 8, 2025, ahead of a divisional matchup with the Bears. McCarthy cycles through footwork and throwing sequences as teammates complete nearby reps before kickoff. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
A shortlist might look like this:
Baltimore Ravens: The fringe Lamar Jackson trade rumors turn out not to be fringe at all, and the new-look Ravens embark on 2026 with a new head coach (Jesse Minter) and quarterback (McCarthy). Jackson to Minnesota.
Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow requests a trade out of disgruntlement, and as part of a deal that would include multiple 1st-Round draft assets, McCarthy heads to Cincinnati.
Houston Texans: NFL draft expert Todd McShay whispered this week that C.J. Stroud could be traded. For this one, it would be McCarthy and a draft pick to Houston for Stroud.
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Too Early to Quit McCarthy
While it’s frustrating that McCarthy has missed 70% of Vikings games due to various injuries, the franchise owes it to itself to see if the youngster turns the corner in Year No. 3. Reminder: this is the organization that gave up on Sam Darnold during the 2025 offseason, and 11 months later, Darnold hoisted a Lombardi trophy in Seattle. One might think Minnesota learned its lesson on giving up on frustrating quarterbacks too soon.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) warms up at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Nov. 16, 2025, before facing the Chicago Bears. McCarthy loosens his arm during pregame routines as Minnesota prepares for the divisional contest. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
The best solution for the Kevin O’Connell-led Vikings is to thread the needle. Keep McCarthy in-house — deny him the ESPN-drive change of scenery — while finding a way to land a quarterback like Kyler Murray, Mac Jones, Malik Willis, Anthony Richardson, or Will Levis. With all of those options, McCarthy could strut his stuff at training camp, hoping to keep hold of his QB1 job. The Vikings, meanwhile, would have a sturdy contingency plan.
Of course, if the Bengals actually came knocking, dangling Burrow as a trade asset, then all bets are off. Ship McCarthy to Cincinnati and flourish with Burrow. It’s just that a Burrow trade isn’t likely until the 2027 offseason — if it happens at all.
Mumbai City FC began their Indian Super League season on a winning note, edging past Chennaiyin FC 1-0 at the Mumbai Football Arena here on Thursday.
A tightly-contested encounter was decided by an own goal in the 48th minute by Pritam Kotal as the Islanders secured all three points.
Neither team could create much flow in the match as they cancelled each other out in the midfield. Chances were at a premium in the first half as the attackers found it difficult to break the opposition defence.
Jorge Pereyra Diaz forced a fine save out of Mohammad Nawaz after he was played through by Jorge Ortiz. Minutes later, Brandon Fernandes found Lallianzuala Chhangte at the far post. The forward laid the ball on the path of Ortiz but the Spaniard’s effort only found the goalkeeper.
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Chennaiyin relied on long balls with Irfan Yadwad and new signing Inigo Martin as the target men, but they were well marked by the Mumbai City defence. The away side earned five corner kicks in the first half but did not trouble Phurba Lachenpa in the Mumbai goal.
The Chennaiyin wingers were sending in crosses which were a regularity throughout the match, but the opposition defence were alert to the danger with Valpuia making two crucial clearances at the back post.
The Islanders started the second half with more intent, earning an early corner. The early pressure led to them taking the lead after four minutes of the restart. Joni Kauko’s attempted cross, which was aimed for Pereyra Diaz in the box, took a huge deflection off Pritam Kotal and found the target, wrong-footing Mohammad Nawaz in goal.
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Chennaiyin kept possession after trailing in the match, but the pattern of their attack remained the same, using their wide players to whip in crosses into the box. Mumbai City’s defence maintained their shape and ensured the opposition forwards did not create any clear-cut chances.
Chennaiyin earned a total of 15 corner kicks, including four back-to-back but were not able to capitalise. The closest they came to scoring was when Mandar Rao Dessai could not get a proper connection after an initial corner kick was recycled into the box during the dying stages of the match.
In the end, Mumbai City held on to their slender lead to secure all three points.
It is two years since Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment into Man Utd was given the green light. It has been an interesting couple of years.
04:00, 20 Feb 2026
When Sir Jim Ratcliffe sat down with Sky News in Antwerp last week, there was one particular comment that dominated headlines and would set the agenda for days, if not weeks, to come. Not just around Manchester United, but also politically.
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It’s not every day the co-owner of one of the world’s biggest football clubs is told to apologise by the Prime Minister, but Ratcliffe’s comments on immigration drew condemnation and even prompted a public response from the club he owns.
But as we reflect on the second anniversary of Ineos’ investment into United being confirmed in February 2024, there was another line in that interview that caught the attention, albeit one that was never going to get the same scrutiny or coverage.
Ratcliffe was talking about the need for a leader, in this case a Prime Minister, to make difficult and unpopular decisions for the greater good when he drew a comparison with his own situation at United.
“Well, I’ve been very unpopular at Manchester United because we’ve made lots of changes,” he said. “But for the better, in my view.
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“And I think we’re beginning to see some evidence in the football club that that’s beginning to pay off.”
Two years in, is Ratcliffe right that the decisions he has made are beginning to deliver results? Have United won four of their last five games because they stumbled upon an excellent coach, or is it because Ratcliffe has wasted millions on Erik ten Hag, Dan Ashworth and Ruben Amorim, made a third of the workforce redundant, stripped back bonuses for the staff that remain, done away with free lunches and made going to the game more difficult than ever?
It felt like a stretch. United are in a good moment and have momentum, but they have a coach under contract until the end of the season who got the job because Ratcliffe appointed a coach from Portugal, despite the director of football that he was desperate to recruit telling him it would be a mistake.
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“I saw that comment and I thought he was trying to get a bit of glory from a few good results,” said Chris Rumfitt of the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (MUST).
“I fail to see how sacking so many staff and getting rid of food at the training ground has led in any way to those results. It’s probably hindered rather than helped, I’m not buying that one.”
Two years into the Ineos era, Rumfitt described it as a “mixed picture”. One thing you can say for Ratcliffe is that he has packed a lot into those 731 days.
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On the football ledger, he blundered by keeping Ten Hag, handing him a new contract and sacking him three months later. He then spent £27million on hiring and firing Amorim and £4.1million to do the same with Ashworth. When you compare that with the cost of scrapping lunch for staff, it is a drop in the ocean.
Although the executives Ratcliffe has placed in charge of football operations are now facing scrutiny, chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox look to have delivered an upgrade in recruitment. United spent more than £215million in the summer, and it looks like the best window they have had in years.
Judging Ratcliffe purely by what has happened on the pitch is impossible, however. From the redundancies to the lunches to the stripping away of cup final perks, from £66 tickets and no concessions to what supporter groups describe as an attack on fan culture.
Then there’s the interviews. Last week’s claim that the United Kingdom is being “colonised” by immigrants is the most egregious example, but Ratcliffe’s attempts to front up have too often been disastrous.
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His claim that United’s ticket prices should be no different to Fulham’s showed he had lost all touch with reality back in the city he once called home, and publicly citing some players as “not good enough” and “overpaid” went down badly in the dressing room.
There have been protests again recently and although the positive results under Carrick reduced the scale of them, those who go to Old Trafford regularly feel like they are under attack.
“It’s a real issue, every season ticket holder will tell you they feel like the club are going out of their way to make being a season ticket holder more difficult,” said Rumfitt.
“All the rules around passing on tickets, how you have to do it, who you can pass them on to, deadlines for selling tickets back to the club, it feels like everything they’re doing is to make the life of a season ticket holder more difficult.
“Cynically, one suspects they would rather we had fewer season ticket holders because of the pricing model they’ve now got. It means season ticket holders are paying so much less per game than match-by-match fans, and we don’t go to the megastore.”
It’s certainly not been two years of plain sailing. Two years ago tomorrow, Ratcliffe sat down with journalists in Ineos’ Knightbridge offices for a rare interview that didn’t cause controversy.
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He said it would take “two or three” seasons to make United a force again, but that looks like an underestimation. United are in a good moment under Michael Carrick, but there is clearly more work to be done.
So, looking ahead to the next two years, what advice would Rumfitt offer Ratcliffe as he finally looks to deliver on that promise?
“In his very first meeting with fans, I was in a couple of them, he said we are going to be absolutely laser focused on results on the pitch, turning it round on the pitch and fixing everything else almost secondarily, because without the results on the pitch, almost nothing else matters at a football club,” he said.
“I think that’s right, and I think he needs to return to that mission. Leave the fans alone, but also put an end to the cost-cutting. It’s not that cost-cutting isn’t a legitimate thing to do in a business, but the money you’re saving is so trivial compared to the amount you’re wasting by making bad decisions with respect to on-pitch matters.
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“Our focus would be to stick to that original thing you said, which is to focus on getting us winning on the pitch and loosen up a bit about fan issues.
“And one last thing: keep your views on politics to yourself, we don’t want to hear them.”
Ole Miss led the Tigers, 69-59, with 6:24 remaining. The shift to a bigger lineup that featured senior Amiya Joyner and sophomore Kate Koval inside coupled with throwing different defenders and looks at Rebels’ leading scorer Cotie McMahon sparked the comeback. LSU went on a 19-1 run to close out the game and survive, 78-70, inside Sandy and John Black Pavilion Thursday night.
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With the victory, LSU (23-4, 9-4) has grabbed sole possession of fourth place in the Southeastern Conference standings, meaning it’s in the driver’s seat for the double bye at the conference tournament in a couple of weeks.
Junior star guard MiLaysia Fulwiley turned in a career high 26 points, scoring 22 in the second half to help will the Tigers to the rally over Ole Miss (21-7, 8-5).
Kim Mulkey on the coaching decision that allowed LSU women’s basketball to rally vs Ole Miss
“I think a decision we made as a staff to go big was very effective. I just thought there were taking my two young freshmen off the drive and that’s why I didn’t go big thinking that, you know, they could move laterally a little bit better. What was killing us was second, third shots and I thought Kate and (Joyner) were just solid together. That was a big decision and I’m not sure I ever thought I would do that in this game tonight. But I did and it worked.”
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Kim Mulkey on what LSU did differently defensively on Cotie McMahon
“We mixed it up. We went to that 3-2 zone. Might have stayed in it a little too long. They hit some three’s when we were in it and then we went back man, just trying to mix it up a little bit. Keep her off balanced. She’s so explosive and so powerful and with that, she just is just so quick. We threw different people at her. (Fulwiley) was on her one minute and got a couple of steals, then Jada (Richard) and Bella (Hines), Mikaylah (Williams), anybody we could. Giving her different bodies to look at. You’re not going to guard her 1-on-1. We made sure when she turned a corner, somebody else is there to help.”
Kim Mulkey on MiLaysia Fulwiley’s career night vs Ole Miss
“God bless this child with speed. I wouldn’t want to be on the floor with her because when she takes off, you better put it in high gear. She’ll find you and a lot of times, honestly, she looks to pass too much. She needs to get to the rim and finish and draw fouls.”
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Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.
