Erik ten Hag may be celebrating tonight – but this could be a velvet glove on the outside of an iron fist as far as Manchester United is concerned.
The Dutchman stands on the threshold of lifting his first trophy for the Old Trafford club after a barren spell of…ahem…literally a few years. That would be viewed as six campaigns too long since 2017 when Jose Mourinho returned from Stockholm with the Europa League pot sat proudly next to him on the plane home.
Fast forward to today and the change Manchester United’s fans have demanded – on-pitch investment AND silverware in the cabinet – looks like being delivered. In fact, as commentators everywhere rightly pointed out, the two-legged victory over a highly-capable Barcelona side may be the first concrete sign that the aura created by Sir Alex Ferguson is being replicated.
However – and here is the rub – every single match that Ten Hag wins from now on makes it more likely that the owners will stay put. Sure, a ‘soft deadline’ for bids has been and gone. So what?
They can be immediately discounted if the Glazer family thinks: ‘Do you know what? Let’s hang around a bit longer.’ If Manchester United are on the cusp of greatness – and their star is undoubtedly on the rise – why would you accept a bid from Qatar, Jim Ratcliffe or anywhere?
All that would happen is that you are handing potential purchasers a team that’s growing in confidence, presence and, potentially, one that’s in position not only to challenge for the big prizes, but win them. Any buyer would be walking into an oven-ready title-winning situation.
And that means bigger bucks. More fans, increasing monetisation of those supporters, leading to a more valuable asset – ‘luvvly jubbly’ as Del Boy once said.
After all the heartache and angst that the Glazer family have suffered over the years, if I were in their shoes, I’d be saying: ‘Thanks, but no thanks.’ Instead, it would be, to use a Stateside phrase: ‘Payback.’
The Americans have been vilified at times. Contrast that with the ride that the Fenway Group have received at Anfield and the treatment of the two is directly proportional to the on-field success. Strange that.
For perspective, and in almost nine years writing this column, I’ve referred to my own club, Birmingham City, fleetingly. But it warrants mention here. If you want to see what bad owners look like, then take a look at the crumbling Theatre of Broken Dreams, St Andrew’s.
The Football League know not who the owners are, there have been points’ deductions for financial misplay, the ground has been sold off, two of the stands are falling apart, the club’s in £120m of debt and John Eustace’s team is populated with loanees after the previous chief executive handed over-blown contracts to players who weren’t worth it.
By contrast, last August, Manchester United lost 4-0 at Brentford and within the next two weeks agreed to spend £160m on Anthony and Casemiro. Having relegated £80m defender Harry Maguire to the bench after spending £55m on Lisandro Martinez as his replacement.
Damn those Glazers, dragging the club down.
Manchester United, or the family in charge, have sanctioned a £1.4bn spend on players since Ferguson left. Now, and only now, are they seeing any kind of on-field return.
Ten Hag may get his hands on the Carabao Cup this evening but it could herald a re-think in the corridors of power. And despite what Manchester United supporters think – that’s no bad thing.
