While even Cristiano Ronaldo’s greatest admirers would probably have to admit that he crossed a line during that infamous interview with Piers Morgan, the Manchester United legend did make some very good points in between undermining his manager and dismissing the prospect of a move to the Middle East.
Ronaldo’s very public criticism of the despised Glazer family did not tell the Manchester United supporters much that they did not already know.
But it was refreshing to hear a current member of the Red Devils squad speak from experience, and publicly admonish an ownership group who seemed more than happy to let the club’s once world-leading facilities gather dust and rust.
Cristiano Ronaldo was right about the Glazers
“Nothing changed, surprisingly. Not only the pool, the jacuzzi, even the gym. Even the kitchen, the chefs, whom I appreciate – lovely people. They stopped in time. It surprised me a lot,” a bemused Ronaldo told motormouth Morgan shortly before his contract was terminated.
“I thought I would see other things; technologies and infrastructure. Unfortunately, we see a lot of what I used to see at 21, 22, and 23 years old. It really surprised me.
“Since (Sir Alex) Ferguson left, I haven’t seen an evolution at the club. Progress is zero. You have to tear it down and rebuild it.”
Schweinsteiger’s own spell at Man United might not have spanned two very different eras – Ronaldo arrived before the Glazer’s takeover and returned nearly two decades later – but the Bayern Munich icon was also taken aback somewhat by facilities that must have looked distinctly analogue compared to the digital age of the Allianz Arena.
“So, (the) people, amazing. How polite and everything. That was fantastic,” Schweinsteiger tells Gary Neville on the latest edition of The Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast. “The stadium? Walking on the pitch, nothing better than that.
“(But the) facilities? Actually a little bit like, not as modern as I expected, to be honest. I think they are rebuilding it.”
Ineos plan to upgrade Manchester United at last
Better late than never, of course.
Ineos chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe has publicly floated the idea of a new stadium – a potential ‘Wembley of the North’ with fewer leaks in the roof – and is also investigating the prospect of a novel training complex in Knutsford.
According to ESPN, that would cost a minimum of £250 million. But Ratcliffe’s determination to make Man United the pinnacle of world football again in all departments could hardly be more contrasting to the mediocrity which plagued every area of this once great club during years of malnourishment and neglect under the Glazers.
“I wanted to write to you at this time given the critical role of the fans to the future of Manchester United as we recognise our responsibility as custodians of the club on your behalf,” Ratcliffe told the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust in an open letter, via The Telegraph.
“I believe we can bring sporting success on the pitch to complement the undoubted commercial success that the club has enjoyed. It will require time and patience alongside rigour and the highest level of professional management.
“You are ambitious for Manchester United and so are we. There are no guarantees in sport, and change can inevitably take time but we are in it for the long term and together we want to help take Manchester United back to where the club belongs, at the very top of English, European and world football. I take that responsibility very seriously.”