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There would have been butterflies in Manchester United’s stomach on the morning of May 25. The FA Cup final at Wembley was territory to die for when it came to how this season would be remembered.

But among the executives watching, particularly Sir Jim Ratcliffe, there would have been a similar sense of nervousness and nausea ahead of the Manchester City clash. Ratcliffe would have been desperate to savor that feeling of winning as co-owner of his boyhood club, but the 71-year-old businessman would also have been aware of how valuable this match would be.

He had become the club’s main decision-maker at a time of need. Results had collapsed, the manager was under pressure and the financial situation was starting to look a little dire. An early exit from Europe made matters worse, and if they failed to win the FA Cup final, United would go into the following season without being in any continental competition.

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