TNT Sports Host Supports Carney’s Criticism of Ratcliffe’s Man United Comments
TNT Sports host Jules Breach openly agreed with Karen Carney’s critical assessment of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s comments about Manchester United’s women’s team ahead of their Europa League fixture against Real Sociedad.
During Thursday’s pre-match coverage, Breach was joined by football experts Carney and Paul Scholes to discuss various club developments, including Ratcliffe’s recent stadium announcement and controversial statements about team priorities.
The businessman, who recently unveiled plans for a new Manchester United stadium, had previously spoken to the BBC and Gary Neville about the club’s financial situation. During these interviews, Ratcliffe made remarks that sparked significant debate in the football community, particularly regarding his perspective on the women’s team.
Ratcliffe’s Comments on Women’s Football Draw Criticism
In his BBC interview, Ratcliffe stated: “My main focus is on the men’s team because that is what moves the needle at Manchester United. The women’s team is much smaller than the men’s team. Out of our £650million of income, £640m comes from the men’s team, £10m comes from the women’s team.”
He further explained his business-oriented approach: “With my business background you tend to focus on the bigger issues before you focus on the smaller issues.”
These statements prompted a strong response from Karen Carney, who expressed her disappointment with Ratcliffe’s perspective:
“No one expects Man United not to be focused on the men’s team, but it is disappointing and honestly surprising that a club with such a history of being forward thinking and world-leading not to be investing in one of the fastest growing areas of sport.”
Carney further emphasized that Manchester United has traditionally been known for innovation and leadership across all aspects of football. She described Ratcliffe’s stance as “sad” and expressed hope that his “thought process” would eventually change.
After Carney’s passionate critique, host Jules Breach offered her clear endorsement with a simple but meaningful “Well said.”
The exchange highlights growing concerns about investment disparities in men’s and women’s football, particularly as the women’s game continues to experience unprecedented growth in popularity and commercial potential.
Meanwhile, former United midfielder Paul Scholes took a different focus, commenting on Ratcliffe’s ambitious £2 billion stadium plans:
- Expressed excitement about the new stadium concept
- Acknowledged Old Trafford’s significant history and memories
- Compared United’s stadium needs to world-class venues like the Bernabéu, Camp Nou, and San Siro
- Supported the move as necessary for Manchester United to “catch up, stadium-wise”
Scholes concluded: “As much as this will be sad to say goodbye to, I think the time is right to move to a new, better, bigger, brilliant stadium that this one looks like it’s going to be.”
This discussion reflects the broader tensions within football club management—balancing tradition with modernization, and managing resources across expanding football operations that now include both men’s and women’s teams at the highest levels.
Follow us for more in-depth analysis of Manchester United’s transformation under Ratcliffe’s leadership and join the conversation about the future of women’s football investment at top Premier League clubs.