Man United stars finally know where they stand as Sir Jim Ratcliffe's loyalties become clear

If actions speak louder than words, then Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s absence at Wembley Stadium on Sunday afternoon was deafening.

From the moment the powers that be determined Manchester United's men's team would face off with Arsenal in the Premier League on the same afternoon as the Women’s FA Cup final, it looked like the INEOS boss was set for one of his first big tests as the club’s part-owner. One look at the directors' box in north-west London on Sunday afternoon indicated he had failed that test miserably.

Rather than watching Marc Skinner’s side take on Tottenham Hotspur in a bid to win the club’s first major women’s trophy, Ratcliffe and INEOS sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford opted to take in the action at Old Trafford, where United sought to take a step closer to securing continental football for next season after what has largely been a dismal domestic campaign.

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Co-owner Avram Glazer, meanwhile, was watching proceedings in London, alongside other senior representatives from INEOS. There is, perhaps, an argument that this should not be surprising. It would be naive to assume that improving the fortunes of the men’s team is not Ratcliffe’s priority and therefore that they will, more often than not, take precedence over the women’s team.

His in-tray almost certainly congested with matters pertaining to Erik ten Hag’s side, with questions over the manager's future, the make-up of the playing squad and a potential stadium rebuild among the many issues that will likely be occupying his mind at present.

However, considering there was little on the line for the hosts against the Gunners, there can be little excuse for his conspicuous snub of Skinner’s side. And, while United say Ratcliffe sent good luck messages directly to all those involved at Wembley, the players will surely have viewed his non-appearance as a bit of a slap in the face.

In truth, the warning signs have been there for some time. Despite voicing ambitions to make United the best in class in every department, the 72-year-old’s conduct in recent months has smacked of a total disregard for a women’s team that, for too long, has been regarded as an afterthought by one of the biggest footballing institutions in the world.

During an hour-long meeting with the press back in February, Ratcliffe discussed a vast array of topics but his appraisal of Skinner’s side was noticeably brief. He said: "The only thing I would say is that if it’s a team wearing a Manchester United badge on their shirt then it’s Manchester United and they need to be focused on winning and being successful."

Taking an interest in that success, though, clearly does not rank highly on Ratcliffe’s agenda. A ‘One Club Mentality’, it seems, only exists when it is convenient. Of course, it could be argued that Ratcliffe alone is not to blame for this huge PR own goal. The fixture gods have admittedly not been kind to United and perhaps it is their decision to reschedule the Reds’ clash with Arsenal to the same afternoon as the FA Cup final that should be scrutinised.

But, when you consider Ratcliffe managed to juggle running the London Marathon with attending United’s FA Cup semi-final meeting with Coventry City last month, his lack of effort on this occasion is sobering.

There was, belatedly, some public acknowledgement of United's FA Cup triumph, with Ratcliffe, congratulating Skinner's side via INEOS' official X account. “Congratulations to the @ManUtdWomen team on lifting the FA Cup today," he said.

"A proud and historic moment for the team that is testament to their grit, determination and team spirit. A wonderful achievement. Many congratulations.”

It is, at least, better than nothing. But Ratcliffe now has plenty of work to do if he is to convince supporters that he is capable of delivering the bright new dawn they have long been hoping for.