Sir Jim Ratcliffe is already demonstrating his ability to provide Manchester United with something that the Glazers have never done.
The CEO of INEOS attended the event at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night, seeing the unfolding scenario. He will be really disappointed by Cole Palmer’s goal in extra time, and appeared sad and hopeless at the end of the game.
In the directors’ box, he was accompanied by his right-hand man, Sir Dave Brailsford, and the esteemed goalkeeper, Peter Schmeichel. There is little doubt that he is just as much of a fan as those loudly singing the club anthems in the away section.
Ratcliffe finds himself in the enviable situation that many lifelong supporters aspire to, however he is confronted with challenging choices this summer. Erik ten Hag’s situation remains uncertain since he still needs to address certain concerns.
In addition, there are transfer issues that need to be addressed, as well as the necessity to resolve the compensation situation involving Newcastle’s sporting director, Dan Ashworth. However, within a span of two hours, he experienced intense and passionate feelings associated with the game, an experience that cannot be duplicated by watching it on a TV screen located 4,300 miles distant across the Atlantic Ocean.
The Glazers have been largely absent as owners for most of their tenure and have a shrewd ability to avoid being recorded by reporters, with only a few exceptions. Interaction with fans is primarily limited to formal press releases filled with corporate language, lacking any sense of connection or chemistry.
Ratcliffe has made a deliberate and focused attempt to demonstrate that the Glazers are neither typical or representative. He has engaged in discussions with fan organizations, extended invitations to journalists, and attended numerous games.
