Michael Plant joins Charles Hague-Jones to discuss the biggest talking points from Manchester City and Manchester United.
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00:00 I'm here with Michael Plant of Manchester World. Michael, let's start with Manchester United.
00:07 Let's start with Sir Jim Radcliffe. He's made a fair few headlines, a few of the clips released from his interview,
00:14 talking about wanting to catch up with City in Liverpool and it's not going to happen overnight, for example.
00:19 What sort of feelings does that give United fans and what have we learnt from his little discussion?
00:26 Yeah, a lot actually. A lot more than I thought we were going to learn.
00:31 He spoke about so many topics in that and really interesting angles that he took.
00:38 I mean, I think the big one is that he just wants to get Manchester United competing on a football basis.
00:44 He spoke about the fact that money isn't a driving factor in this or isn't a factor at all, I think he said in this,
00:49 that it is basically just to get Manchester United back competing with England and Europe's top sides.
00:55 He referenced Manchester City so many times in that interview.
01:00 And look, Manchester City are the best club in the world, I think, on and off the pitch.
01:04 And they are a club you would want to emulate. And it's not a surprise, I suppose, that he said that.
01:10 But I got to the point where you read through the interview and you think, wow, he has referenced City about 10 times now.
01:15 And he was actually asked about the fact that he mentioned them so many times. So that was interesting.
01:20 He did the Man United back on the purchase line, which I think fans will absolutely love, given the history of that kind of comment.
01:27 Though, we talked about Nice and the fact that whether United can play in the Champions League against them.
01:34 He spoke about, which he said, by the way, he said wouldn't be a factor that if Nice were in the Champions League, that wouldn't impact Manchester United.
01:43 He spoke about so many topics. He spoke about Stratis Ferguson, his relationship with Stratis Ferguson.
01:49 And all these kind of topics and so many interesting stuff.
01:53 I think two that perhaps were slightly controversial were the Mason Greenwood stuff, where he basically didn't say that Greenwood's time at United is done.
02:04 But I also then thought there was a bit of an implication where he spoke about, are they the right character for Manchester United?
02:10 Where I also think you could read into that to say that he's potentially not got a future at the club.
02:15 So that was a bit of an ambiguous one. And I think the one that will interest fans a lot is he spoke about Old Trafford and he spoke about basically confirming his plans.
02:23 He wants to build a new stadium that they're already in talk with the local council and with lots of other kind of interested parties in that regard.
02:33 And he sees it as a regeneration of the Manchester Ship Canal, which is great.
02:38 And I think from a United perspective, they will be absolutely delighted. Fans will be kind of really encouraged with that.
02:44 I think the thing that's stuck in my throat a little bit is that he has said that he wants to use taxpayers' money to help build this new stadium,
02:53 which when you consider that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is the second richest man in the country, that he has spent most of his time in Monaco to avoid paying UK tax,
03:03 sticks in the throat a little bit when you also consider the Glazers haven't put in a penny for so many years and that Manchester United earned so much in terms of funds.
03:10 It just it just I really didn't I just thought that came across terribly. The thought that he expects taxpayers to pay it.
03:16 Kind of kept talking about how the north needs a stadium to rival Wembley. Well, why should that be Manchester United to get that?
03:22 You know, I just thought he got he got that one completely wrong in terms of that.
03:26 So, look, I think overall really encouraging and United fans will be very encouraged.
03:31 And just to confirm that he is now officially co-owner of Manchester United.
03:36 He owns 27.7 percent of the club now. That will increase to just to just under 29 percent in a year's time or by the end of this year.
03:45 So, listen, a lot of going on. And I think now the attention will turn to what is his hierarchy going to look like.
03:51 Omar Barad is obviously in, has been appointed from Manchester City. He'll start in summer.
03:56 Dan Ashworth, we could do a whole video on that. But listen, I think that will get wrapped up.
03:59 And United certainly want to bring him in. There's Jason Wilcox at Southampton that they want to add.
04:04 And look, there'll be more names that will come over the weeks and months and years to come.
04:10 But listen, I think it's a very encouraging start from Jim Radcliffe in that interview.
04:14 He got eight or nine out of 10 things right, shall we say.
04:19 Moving on to United in their current injury situation. Luke Shaw has been an influential player over the recent run of form.
04:28 What's the latest on his injury and when can fans expect him back on the pitch?
04:34 Well, potentially not again this season. The club confirmed on Wednesday night that he has picked up an injury and is going to be out for an extended period of time.
04:46 I suspect Derek Tenehag will talk with that in Friday's press conference.
04:49 But for now, we just know he's going to be out for a while. We're talking months.
04:54 And of course, we've only got three months left of the season, so there's really not much time in that regard.
05:00 The Athletic did a report that said it's going to be 12 weeks. 12 weeks from this week is exactly the final week of the season.
05:05 So, you know, that could be a season done really. And if they were to get the FA Cup, it could potentially be an option.
05:11 But you're going to bring him back after that amount of time off? I suspect not.
05:15 And it causes a big issue for United, mainly because the recent run of form has been based on getting players back from injury.
05:21 They got Casemiro back. They got Shaw back and Lysandre Martinez back.
05:24 Thought, great, they're going to push on now. And now Martinez and Shaw are injured again.
05:28 And it's been a big factor for United's left side, building up. They struggled for left-footed options.
05:33 They don't have players for that role. And now suddenly they've got Martinez and Shaw out again.
05:38 I think it's a big blow for United in terms of the way they play. Two really, really important players.
05:43 I think kind of up there and kind of of the five most important players in the club, Shaw and Martinez would certainly be in that group.
05:50 So it's going to be really, really frustrated with that.
05:53 But to add insult to injury, they don't have another fit left back. Tyrell Molassi is injured.
05:58 They allowed Sergio Reguilón to go back to Spurs, his parent club.
06:02 They cut Shorten alone in January because Shaw and Molassi were coming back from injury.
06:07 Now Victor Lindelof has played at left back for the last two games.
06:11 So, yeah, it's a really concerning situation for United, especially as they're starting to build up some really good form.
06:17 And I think they'll be concerned about what their left side is going to look like.
06:20 And even when Molassi comes back, I don't know how much he's going to be able to be rushed in straight away.
06:25 I think he'll need a bit of time. I suspect what we will see going into the next couple of weeks is when Aramond Basak is fit again,
06:31 he'll play right back. Diego Dalo will play left back. And that's how it will go on.
06:34 But I don't think that's an ideal situation for United.
06:37 And they will be really, really disappointed that Luke Shaw is out for a prolonged period of time.
06:43 And coming up next in the Premier League for them, they host Fulham.
06:47 I mean, the form in 2024 has been fantastic and beaten in all competitions for Manchester United.
06:54 And obviously, Rasmus Hoyland as well, a player who's really sort of found his feet in this side, in this system.
07:00 How do you feel that the game's going to go on Saturday?
07:04 Yeah, I mean, Hoyland is one of my players who couldn't score to save his life, to now just can't stop scoring.
07:09 And, you know, he's got goals hitting him in the chest and going in. Maybe it's a bit harsh.
07:13 I do think he meant to score that goal at the weekend.
07:15 But yeah, listen, I think United, as you said, going into this game in fantastic form.
07:21 They won the last four or five in a row. Coming off the top of my head, playing really well.
07:25 Looking better at Old Trafford as well. And they are hunting down the Champions League places.
07:32 They're five points off the top four of Villa. And I think, you know, given Villa, I mean, I can't say they won last week,
07:40 but I think they'll be concerned about their injury record. Spurs, realistically, you take away that fantastic start that they had to the season.
07:47 Spurs haven't been consistent enough from about November onwards.
07:50 So United, I think, will fancy the chances of getting that top four spot.
07:53 But then it comes back to what I've just said about the injuries that United have had now with Martinez and Shoaid.
07:58 I think that will impact them as well. But I think Saturday's a game that they'll win pretty comfortably.
08:04 They've got a fantastic record against Spurs. In the 60s, the last time I say Spurs, I mean Fulham.
08:11 They haven't lost at home to Fulham since the 60s. They've won all four games since Fulham came up last season.
08:20 And they're a bit of an up and down side, Fulham. And I think defensively, they're going to be well organised.
08:29 But I just think that United are going to have enough of them in this occasion.
08:32 I just think in the long term, there will be concerns, as I say, about those injuries.
08:37 Michael, moving on to Manchester City. Now, the form speaks for itself.
08:41 I mean, they've lost one since they played Arsenal all the way back in October, early October, which is quite astonishing.
08:49 Obviously, it was a way Aston Villa, who at the time were possibly creeping on the title charge.
08:54 But in terms of that title race, it's just they're slowly creeping and the game in hand is coming up as well.
09:03 Liverpool and Arsenal have got to be looking at them and thinking, not again, surely.
09:09 It's a funny one because you're absolutely right in what you say. And they are starting to look pretty ominous.
09:13 They're putting together a really good run of form.
09:16 And if you're Arsenal and Liverpool, you look and think, wow, this is what City do every year.
09:20 And they eventually win the title. And then at the same time, they're not playing that brilliantly.
09:26 I don't think. They're absolutely controlling games, dominating games, having so many shots.
09:31 But actually finding scoring goals and winning matches a bit problematic.
09:36 And they're conceding a lot of goals that they, you know, they went on the run recently where they'd only concede
09:41 or they kept one clean sheet in 13 Premier League matches. OK, they've kept two in the last three since then,
09:46 which is worth adding. But there is, you know, they're not quite at the same levels they were,
09:51 let's say this time a year ago, kind of going into the spring of 2023.
09:56 And then at the same time, I put together this brilliant record you mentioned since October.
10:00 But they've actually since that Villa game, 16 matches they haven't lost, they've won 14 of them.
10:05 That's absolutely brilliant. The record that City are on.
10:09 Guardiola, he's getting a bit annoyed about talk of whether City are playing well or not.
10:15 And he basically says something along the lines during the week of, oh, if City win, we're impossible to stop.
10:20 No one can stop us. And if we don't win, it's oh, City aren't as good as they've been in the past.
10:24 And I think there's a bit of truth in that. But I think, as I said, they are playing well and they are looking good.
10:31 But there's still, I don't think, I still think they're quite a way off where they were this time last year.
10:36 And we could do a whole video on that and why that's the case.
10:39 But yeah, I still think they'll win the title. But I do have this, if I were City, I would have this kind of little half concern
10:47 that they just haven't quite got back up to their pace yet.
10:50 Look, who knows? It could suddenly all click into gear and they could get back to what we'll have to see, obviously, over the coming weeks.
10:56 And you mentioned the title race. Just to emphasise again that City, after this weekend, will have played the same number of matches as Liverpool and Arsenal.
11:04 Obviously, Liverpool in the Cardboard Cup this weekend, in the final of that, so they're not going to be playing this weekend.
11:09 Arsenal, obviously, in action. And then we'll have all three teams playing the same number of games.
11:13 So I think it gives us a bit more of a balance in terms of looking at the title race and trying to make assessments
11:19 and draw conclusions from it at this early stage still.
11:23 And you spoke about Guadalajara there at the press conference.
11:27 There's been a few comments made towards journalists, you being there and being a journalist yourself.
11:33 What can you tell us about your experience of it and the overreaction on social media?
11:39 I think overreaction is the right word. It was a nothing event.
11:43 I mean, so for those who haven't seen it, Guadalajara made some comment about he wouldn't want to be a journalist or something like that.
11:49 And someone asked him why. And he kind of laughed and said, why would I not want to be a journalist?
11:53 I'm a manager. My life's much better than yours.
11:56 Like I was in the room at the time and I just laughed. He was joking. He was laughing.
12:00 And the question came from Sam Lee of The Athletic.
12:03 And he's got a good relationship with Sam and gets on well with him.
12:08 I think it's worth remembering as well that the majority of journalists in the room,
12:13 I wouldn't say we have a relationship with Pep, but, you know, we see him three, four times a week.
12:20 You know, if he makes a little joke, it's, you know, he's only joking.
12:24 He's not being serious with these things. And, you know, people, I've been in press conferences before where I've thought,
12:29 a manager makes a not a great joke and all the journalists fall around laughing.
12:34 I've kind of rolled my eyes at it. But I didn't think that was one of these occasions.
12:37 I thought it was quite a funny remark. And he was, it was a joke.
12:40 So, yeah, I might have a mold and some of the reactions of it.
12:43 And, you know, these journalists laughing at the fact that, you know, their lives aren't great compared to Pep Guadalajara as well.
12:50 As I said, if you add up every single person in the room, Pep has got significantly more money than all of us combined.
12:55 So I think that was kind of just a little joke. But yeah, far too much money, I think, to be honest.
13:02 And looking ahead to Manchester City's next Premier League game, you know, the game time we mentioned,
13:07 Bournemouth away, Saturday evening kick off. I mean, these are the type of places that you've got to go and dig in.
13:13 And, you know, it's almost a case of at these lower teams, grounds away from home.
13:20 You've got to then show your quality. And maybe they did that against Brentford with Phil Foden's hat trick.
13:27 But it's games like that and moments like that that can really, really put the title race in your favour.
13:33 Yeah, I know what you mean. They're the banana skin games, aren't they? Going away to a difficult side and away from home.
13:40 I still think City are going to find this one relatively comfortable. They love playing Bournemouth.
13:46 They have never lost to Bournemouth in their history since Bournemouth came up in, what was it, 2015.
13:51 They've won every single game they've played against them. A couple of cup games in there as well.
13:55 So, yeah, look, I'd be surprised. Look, that record's got to break one day, doesn't it?
14:02 But I'd be surprised if it's this weekend. Bournemouth not in good form.
14:05 I don't think they've won in the league since Boxing Day. Have they? And slowly on the decline, I think, a little bit.
14:11 I don't think they'll be dragged in the relegation zone. I think there's enough of a gap there anyway.
14:15 But certainly, yeah, certainly I think that City will go there pretty confidently.
14:21 And as we touched on, in a good run of form, not maybe playing at their best.
14:25 But look, I wouldn't be surprised if they come away with a relatively comfortable 2-3 no-win.
14:32 Actually, Bournemouth this season was one of the rare big victories.
14:36 I mean, City haven't had many four, five, six goal holes this season, which is unlike Guadalupe Olazá.
14:43 But they did against Bournemouth in the reverse fixture. They won 6-1 at the Addy Hutt.
14:46 So I think of all the weeks for a potential upset, this isn't the one. I think it'd be a relatively comfortable City victory.