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Itranspired Ruben Amorim could survive losing against lower-league opposition. Survive an important European final against one of the worst Tottenham teams for many years. He could survive home defeats against domestic rivals, finishing 15th, an unwavering system, laying waste to the team's most promising homegrown talent, a poor winning percentage, labeling the squad the poorest in Manchester United history. But there was a single opponent with whom the Portuguese coach was not permitted to dance. If you challenge Jason Wilcox, and you best not miss.

Unfortunately, like many a Premiership defender in Blackburn’s title-winning 1994-95 season, Amorim took on the executive and appears to have missed. Even the most casual observer will notice the irony here: a coach who frequently berated his squad for failing in one-on-one duels succumbing when confronted by the white heat and animal charisma of a England's top division's most feared sporting directors.

In truth, this entire bruising episode appears to portray the director in a whole new light. Perhaps it might have been tempting, based on his brief stint of experience with the Saints, to view him as little more than a drudge in the United exoskeleton: a man who owed his position as much to his friendship with his former boss Omar Berrada as any verifiable talent. How mistaken everyone was. In brilliantly outmanoeuvring the club's celebrated manager, just as he bested the hapless Dan Ashworth earlier, he has demonstrated to be among football's true generals: a strategic mind of which United’s mid-table rivals will now be rightly wary.

The Tactical Conflict Regarding System and Ideology

To illustrate, this was Jason Wilcox , after being involved in the leadership that appointed the rigid 3-4-3 advocate the coach in the first place, played a key role in trying to persuade him to ditch his beloved 3-4-3. Unsurprisingly, these pleas were resisted. However, such directives carry more weight when delivered from the mouth with the impeccable soccer background he possesses, holder of international appearances and a contributor to a championship team from 31 years ago.

Perhaps in time he might agree to explain his reasoning to the rest of us. Maybe one day he might be asked regarding why the coach is departing with a full payout, without any penalty clause in place. But Jason Wilcox seldom speaks publicly, and with very good reason. The real thinkers in football – individuals such as Jason Wilcox – simply operate on a plane exceeding our mundane comprehension. If he ever did speak, most likely we would perceive would be ultrasonic blips and four-dimensional whirring. Wanting is not quite equivalent to being prepared to comprehend it.

The Supreme Power Behind Command

But of course, by focusing our attention on Jason Wilcox we overlook the real power behind the club's current leadership. Jason Wilcox is, in reality, simply carrying out the directives of his ultimate line manager the billionaire owner, who privately has emphasized his desire for a four-man defense. It is reported, the owner has also suggested playing Bryan Mbeumo as a right wing-back. Ratcliffe is keen for the club to embrace data science and metrics. According to ESPN, in an executive meeting soon after his investment, he announced that United’s style of play “will be determined in this room”.

Ultimately, Ratcliffe is a specialist in these intricate football matters, drawing from his previous experience in petrochemicals and yachting. Above all he remains incredibly rich, and as we all know, the wealthy are superior: more insightful, more wise, more tactically astute, simply better. Who else could one trust to oversee a strategic plan of austerity, the building of a new stadium that looks similar to an abstract design, the signing of Benjamin Sesko?

The Modern Football Hierarchy: Executives Above Coaches

This represents a shift we are increasingly seeing at the elite levels of the game. For decades, teams mistakenly entrusted major sporting choices to low-level employees such as coaches, talent spotters – even footballers. Maybe previously possible for an up-and-coming, innovative manager with a philosophy and drive to go into a club and implement their plan supported to fruition. Yet how many businesses have these guys established? What number of mass redundancies have they overseen? Far preferable to invest the real power where it belongs: the leadership tier, the casually dressed executives, the guys with impressive professional resumes. Better by far to determine the tactics by the directors and hire someone who can tailor their offering to suit. If managers were formerly chefs, they are now more like delivery personnel: not really creating the food, yet ultimately answerable if it arrives cold or leaks out to meet standards.

Nowadays, their job is increasingly less about defining the vision and more about selling it: the receptionist on the front desk, the visible figurehead for a club they can do little to change. Enzo Maresca takes a squad of very young players into the Champions League and wins domestic cups, and essentially gets sacked for talking. A manager at Celtic sees his reputation ruined while the people who hired him live to blunder indefinitely.

A Neoliberal Game: Responsibility for the Coaches

And possibly on some microcosmic level this is simply neoliberalism at work: the elevation of a privileged elite who are infallible, whose decisions are always untouchable, whose errors can always be resolved by sacking without explanation. Hire the system coach only to fire him for playing excessively 3-4-3. Bring in the process guy and then bin them for requiring too long. And most importantly be grateful; for your modest season ticket price rises, for your new player acquisitions, for the fact that the adults – regardless of their expertise – are in charge.