Manchester United have been savagely trolled, in reference to a leaky Old Trafford, with a billboard by tradespeople directory Checkatrade.
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Checkatrade trolls leaky Old TraffordHighlighted club's infrastructure strugglesAlso aimed dig at poor on-field performanceWHAT HAPPENED?
Checkatrade took a jab at United by strategically placing a billboard near Old Trafford which humorously addressed the stadium's weary infrastructure, specifically the leaky roof through which water seeps inside during heavy rain. In the advert, there was a green tick before the 'leaky roof' indicating a fixable problem, and a red cross next to the 'leaky defence', which aimed at Erik ten Hag's defensive problems in the current campaign.
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The billboard finished with a line that reads: "There are some things that even Checkatrade can't fix."
The billboard targets the perceived notion of underinvestment among the fans by the Glazer family, contributing to the team's struggles on and off the pitch.
Getty THE BIGGER PICTURE
United's struggles in competing with rivals and the deteriorating state of Old Trafford underscore broader infrastructure issues. Gary Neville, on the Diary of a CEO podcast, reflected on the drastic state of the decline of Old Trafford and compared it to the recent developments at Liverpool's stadium, Anfield.
"I used to laugh when I went to Anfield and compared it to Old Trafford," he said.
"I'd always think: 'They can never catch up, they're too far behind'. They're building that second stand now behind the goal where the away fans sit. The main stand now is towering up. Anfield will be a more modern ground than Manchester United and Old Trafford in 12 months. That is unforgivable."
GettyDID YOU KNOW?
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is on the verge of completing a 25 per cent stake of the club, will reportedly invest £245 million ($300m) of his personal fortune to upgrade Old Trafford which will be in addition to the £1.25bn that he will pay to the Glazers.