# Ratcliffe's empire problem

> Manchester United's owner laments fallen giants while missing the irony of his own club's struggles.
- Title: Ratcliffe's empire problem · the Guardian | Shortify
- Summary: Manchester United's owner laments fallen giants while missing the irony of his own club's struggles. Jim Ratcliffe criticizes the decline of once-powerful…
- Keywords: jim ratcliffe, manchester united, football decline, billionaire owner, self-awareness, david squires, cartoon, premier league, sports commentary, sports, Ratcliffe's, empire
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/football/picture/2026/sep/22/david-squires-on-jim-ratcliffe-lamenting-decline-once-mighty-empires
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: jim ratcliffe, manchester united, football decline, billionaire owner, self-awareness, david squires, cartoon, premier league, sports commentary, sports
## Ratcliffe laments fallen empires
Manchester United's billionaire joint-owner has been expressing concern about the decline of once-mighty football clubs.
## The irony is striking
Squires highlights Ratcliffe's startling lack of self-awareness in criticizing other clubs' decline while Manchester United itself has fallen from its former dominance.
## A cartoon takedown
The Guardian's cartoonist David Squires uses humor to expose the contradiction in Ratcliffe's position as owner of a struggling giant.
## Manchester United's reality
Under Ratcliffe's ownership, Manchester United has struggled to compete at the highest level, making his criticism of other fallen clubs particularly tone-deaf.
## Squires' sharp observation
The cartoon serves as a reminder that those in positions of power should examine their own circumstances before commenting on others' misfortunes.
## Key takeaway

Jim Ratcliffe criticizes the decline of once-powerful football clubs without recognizing Manchester United's own dramatic fall from dominance.