Goldbridge: “They’ve won again. The Glazers always get what they want.” | OneFootball

Ratcliffe Defends the Glazers as United Fans React to Stadium Announcement

The fallout from Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s latest media appearance has sparked fierce debate among Manchester United supporters, with many believing the INEOS chief is simply a front for the Glazers’ continued control of the club. Appearing in interviews with both Gary Neville and the BBC, Ratcliffe was unwavering in his message—seemingly exonerating the Glazers from United’s last decade of failure while confirming the club’s plans for a brand-new stadium.

Mark Goldbridge and The United Stand podcast provided a blistering analysis of Ratcliffe’s words, with contributions from fans who were equally scathing in their assessment. Here’s how it all unfolded.

Ratcliffe’s Defence of the Glazers Stuns Fans

For years, Manchester United supporters have demanded accountability from the Glazers for their mismanagement of the club, yet Ratcliffe’s comments suggested the American owners have not been the real problem. “At the end of the day, they’re 3,000 miles away, and they gave the management a lot of rope,” Ratcliffe stated, arguing that previous executives were more to blame than the Glazers themselves.

Goldbridge didn’t hold back in response: “You couldn’t buy a new bloody loaf of bread without Joel Glazer signing it off, and yet now we’re being told they weren’t involved?”

He wasn’t alone in his criticism. Many fans flooded the comments to challenge Ratcliffe’s assertion that the Glazers’ involvement had been minimal. One fan remarked: “They were involved when vacuuming dividends, but now suddenly, they weren’t making the decisions? Absolute nonsense.”

The perception of Ratcliffe as nothing more than a puppet was echoed throughout the podcast, with Goldbridge stating bluntly: “Sir Jim is a puppet. Gary’s a puppet. The government’s a puppet. They’re all puppets, and they don’t even realise they’ve got strings.”

New Stadium Plans: A Glazer Victory in Disguise?

The headline announcement from Ratcliffe’s interviews was the proposed redevelopment of Old Trafford—or more accurately, the demolition of it to make way for a brand-new stadium. It was billed as a grand project, a ‘vision for the future’—but as Goldbridge pointed out, the timing was suspicious.

“Protests on Sunday. Interview on Monday. Stadium plans on Tuesday. Do you really think that’s a coincidence?”

The idea that United’s future home would be funded through more debt was another major talking point. The Glazers’ ownership has already cost United over a billion pounds in debt repayments, and Ratcliffe’s refusal to commit to paying off existing loans raised further concerns.

As Goldbridge put it: “So let me get this right. We’re raising ticket prices. We’re cutting charity donations. We’re sacking people. But we’re still paying £30 million a year in debt interest? How does that work?”

Fan groups such as The 1958, who organised recent protests, responded with a clear message: “We protest to save our community, to keep real fans going to watch United—young and old. Protests are against 20 years of Glazer greed, £1 billion stolen, £1 billion in debt, £170 million in dividends.”

The emotional weight of leaving Old Trafford also wasn’t lost on supporters. Goldbridge questioned why the club had allowed the stadium to decline to the point where demolition seemed the only option.

“Liverpool modernised Anfield. We could have modernised Old Trafford. The only reason it’s been left to rot is because the Glazers wanted this stadium project all along.”

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Who Are the Real United Fans?

Among the most controversial moments of Ratcliffe’s interview was his comment about “faithful fans,” implying that only season-ticket holders who attend every game could be considered the club’s core supporters. This alienated millions of United followers worldwide, including those who wake up at 4 AM to watch their team play.

One fan responded sharply: “According to Jim, if you don’t have a season ticket and go to every game, you’re not a real fan. Guess I’m not faithful then.”

Goldbridge was equally unimpressed: “This is coming from a Chelsea season ticket holder. What’s he on about?”

The attempt to divide the fanbase seemed deliberate, a strategy designed to weaken opposition to the Glazers’ ownership.

“Divide the fanbase, weaken the protests—it’s just another Glazer tactic.”

Final Thoughts: The Glazers Have Won Again

As the dust settles, one thing remains clear: the Glazers are still in control, and Ratcliffe is doing little to challenge them. The promise of a new stadium might excite some, but for many United fans, it’s simply another distraction from the club’s underlying issues.

“They’ve won again,” Goldbridge concluded. “They’ve got exactly what they wanted. They’ve got their regeneration project, their new stadium, and their financial control. And they’re using Ratcliffe to get away with it.”

The battle against the Glazers isn’t over, but this week’s events have reinforced a harsh reality—Manchester United remains a club run for profit, not for its people.