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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

“And I think we’re beginning to see some evidence in the football club that that’s beginning to pay off.”

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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.

“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.

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.

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.

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“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.

“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.”

The decision that Kim Mulkey felt ultimately won LSU women’s basketball the game over Ole Miss, she initially thought it may have been too late.

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.

MORE LSU WBB COVERAGE LSU women’s basketball storms back, escapes Ole Miss – Game Highlights

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.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Kim Mulkey details LSU women’s basketball comeback win over Ole Miss

Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson set a new world 800m indoor record time of one minute 54.87 seconds in Lievin, beating the near 24-year-old standard set on the day she was born.

Hodgkinson, who stormed to 800m gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics, shaved nearly a second off the previous best, 1min 55.82secs, achieved by Jolanda Ceplak at the European Championships in Vienna on March 3, 2002.

The 23-year-old was primarily relieved she had backed up her words from earlier in the week, when she confidently told a press conference the record was hers to take.

“Thank God!” she declared in a trackside interview with World Athletics.

“No, that was really fun. I’ve been really looking forward to this for a good few weeks, so thank you for the amazing crowd.

“I wasn’t running alone, I had lots of help over here.”

Hodgkinson opened her season at the UK indoor championships, running 1:56.33 without pacemakers or wavelights to move third on the all–time list, before turning her focus to Thursday night in France.

Speaking trackside at that event in Birmingham, the Atherton athlete mused that she “accidentally ran quite fast” without help.

Thursday night’s feat was no happy accident. All the tools were in place in Lievin, where the wavelights were set at 55.8s at the halfway point and 1:53.80 overall.

Hodgkinson followed designated pacemaker Anna Gryc of Poland through 200m in 26.47s and 55.56s at the 400m mark before striking out solo, clocking 1:25.06 three quarters of the way through.

She clapped her hands after crossing the line, where she accepted congratulations from her fellow competitors before splaying out like a starfish on the track to soak in the rousing appreciation from the crowd.

Hodgkinson was also congratulated by her coaches, Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows, as well as training partner Georgia Hunter-Bell – the Olympic 1,500m bronze and world silver medallist who had clinched her own victory earlier in the evening.

The new world-record holder, still full of energy, then made a beeline for her family, taking a selfie to cement the milestone in memory.

Really, can you blame J.J. Spaun? Probably not due to the special place in his heart this particular piece of equipment might hold.

At the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles on Wednesday, the 2025 U.S. Open champ was asked if the USGA — the organization that runs the U.S. Open — ever asked him for a meaningful club from his victory to keep for its archives.

Yes, Spaun said — but he didn’t let them have it.

“I said, ‘Unfortunately, I can’t,’” Spaun said. “That thing is not ready to be retired, especially after that putt.”

That putt, you might remember, is the 64-footer he used to win the 125th U.S. Open in walk-off fashion at Oakmont Country Club last June.

“Viktor [Hovland], we kind of got a good line, a good read on the speed,” Spaun said after his win at Oakmont, when he drained the birdie try to secure his first major title. “I was more focused on how hard he was hitting it. I kind of knew the line already, but it looked like he gave it a pretty good whack because it started raining there for the last 10, 15 minutes. I just tried to pick my line and put a good stroke on it. I knew it was going to be a little slow. About 8 feet out, I kind of went up to the high side to see if it had a chance of going in, and it was like going right in. I was just in shock, disbelief that it went in and it was over. Yeah, here we are.”

Strands Answers and Hints (February 20, 2026): Looking for hints? Find today’s Strands answers and helpful tips here!

Strands offers a fresh challenge in the NYT’s lineup of daily games, inviting players to uncover hidden words within a 6×8 letter grid. Each day brings a unique theme and grid, making it a great test of vocabulary and pattern recognition, but it can get tough at times.

Stuck on the spangram or today’s theme? We’ve got all the hints and clues you need to solve today’s Strands puzzle with confidence.

WARNING: Spoilers ahead! Only read on if you want to know today’s Strands answers.

Today’s Strands Theme

To begin, let’s see what theme has been shared for today’s puzzle on the site.

Today’s theme is: TRUE GRIT

Is it very vague? I’ll explain the theme a bit more so you know what to look for:

• This theme encompasses textures and qualities that can create discomfort or irritation. Often associated with surfaces or materials that lack smoothness or gentleness, it evokes sensations that are abrasive or unrefined. The theme suggests a rugged nature, highlighting elements that can provoke a more intense tactile experience.

Today’s NYT Strands Hints

Still puzzled by today’s game? Here are some helpful hints to assist you:

Strands Hint 1: What are the starting letters of today’s words?

There are 7 words including the spangram.

Below are the starting letters & lengths for each of the theme words:

• Starts with “A” and has 8 letters.
• Starts with “C” and has 6 letters.
• Starts with “H” and has 5 letters.
• Starts with “P” and has 7 letters.
• Starts with “R” and has 5 letters.
• Starts with “S” and has 8 letters.

And today’s spangram starts with “S”.

Strands Hint 2: Where are today’s words located on today’s strands grid?

Here are some clues about their starting positions. For all words except the spangram:

• 1 word starts from the top row
• 1 word starts from the bottom row
• 1 word starts from the left edge of the grid
• 1 word starts from the right edge of the grid
• 2 words start from the middle of the grid

Today’s NYT Strands Clue Words

Still puzzled by today’s game? Here are some helpful hints to assist you:

• LIVRE
• SIRE
• RESAT
• CLYPEI
• SAIRER
• COVE

In the next section, you’ll see today’s Strands answers! Hold up if you’d like to keep puzzling.

Today’s NYT Strands Spangram

Now for the exciting part! Here’s today’s Strands spangram:

SANDPAPER

Today’s NYT Strands Answers

These are the rest of today’s Strands answers to help you complete the game:

• ABRASIVE
• COARSE
• HARSH
• PRICKLY
• ROUGH
• SCRATCHY

Yesterday’s NYT Strands Answer (19 February 2026)

Still attempting to crack yesterday’s Strands (Thursday, 19 February 2026)? Or checking in from a different timezone? No worries—we’ve got you covered with the answers!

Find yesterday’s Strands answers, hints and spangram here.

Yesterday’s Strands theme was:

HERE’S A THOUGHT

Yesterday’s Spangram was:

EUREKA

Yesterday’s Strands Answers were:

• CONCEPT
• HYPOTHESIS
• IDEA
• NOTION
• POSTULATE
• THEORY

This wraps up our coverage of today’s Strands answers, hints, and spangram. If you enjoy word games, we offer answers and solvers for many NYT games. Check out: