On April 21, 2024, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the co-owner of Manchester United, demonstrated his commitment to both athletics and football by participating in the London Marathon and then attending Manchester United’s FA Cup semi-final match at Wembley Stadium. Ratcliffe, an experienced marathon runner, successfully completed the marathon with a personal best time before rushing to watch his football team’s match against Coventry City.

Manchester United secured their place in the FA Cup final after a closely contested match that ended in a penalty shootout. Despite leading 3-0 with goals from Scott McTominay, Harry Maguire, and Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United saw Coventry City level the score to 3-3, forcing the match into extra time and subsequently penalties. Manchester United ultimately emerged victorious in the shootout.

The performance of some Manchester United players was notably poor, with defensive issues from both Casemiro, who was playing in an uncustomary centre-back role and received a low rating, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, whose performance also drew criticism for defensive errors.

Ratcliffe, after the match, spoke about the challenges facing the club, emphasizing that rebuilding a successful team takes time. He highlighted the need for determination, which paralleled his earlier marathon effort, noting the similarities between the endurance required for long-distance running and managing a football club.

Manchester United is now set to face Manchester City in the FA Cup final on May 25, where a strong improvement in performance will be crucial to secure victory.