Sir Jim Ratcliffe mentioned Manchester United's six-figure outlay on a body language consultant during a recent interview, and now the individual in question has spoken out
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Andre Onana saving a penalty from Callum O'Hare
Manchester United won two FA Cup penalty shoot-outs after bringing in a body language consultant
Kirsten Heukels, the body language consultant hired by Manchester United on a £175,000-per-year salary, has defended her role at the club amid criticism from part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Heukels joined the club during Erik ten Hag's time as manager, but was pointed to by Ratcliffe in a discussion of how the club was haemhorraging money when he arrived.
One of Heukels' roles was to help United's players with penalty shoot-outs. Her background was outside football, but during her time the club secured vital shoot-out victories over Brighton and Coventry in successive FA Cup campaigns.
She spoke with United's keepers during her time at Old Trafford, and also met outfield players. However, speaking to The Athletic, she claims there was no direct contact with anyone at owners INEOS.
“I don’t look at life this way,” Heukels said when asked about Ratcliffe's comments. “I believe it was a courageous thing that the team did back then. And I’m proud of what we achieved.
"The achievements are in the data, so they are proven. I don’t need to explain that to anybody," she continued. "I don’t know enough about him or United today because I’m not involved, but it’s always dangerous to talk about your predecessors this way.”
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It was back in March that Ratcliffe referenced Heukels' role and salary - albeit not her name - in an interview with The Times. In the same piece, the billionaire opened up on the financial situation affecting the club since his arrival.
“If you think of it in really simple terms, you’ve got the operating costs, which are all the staff and the fixed costs of running the business," he said. "And then you’ve got all the squad costs, player salaries and player purchases.
“In super simple terms, the club has been spending more money than it’s been earning now for the last seven years, and it ends in a very difficult place. And for Manchester United, that place ended at the end of this year, the end of 2025, with the club running out of cash. I think it’s the first time we’ve probably said that in public, but that’s the fact of the matter.”
Manchester United players celebrate a penalty shoot-out win against Brighton in 2023
Manchester United players celebrate a penalty shoot-out win against Brighton in 2023
Heukels, who also credits former United coach Steve McClaren among others for helping her during her time at Old Trafford, predominantly scouted opposition penalty takers. The 2023 Brighton shoot-out win was described as a breakthrough, while she was also in her role when David de Gea made his first Old Trafford penalty save in nine years during a match against Fulham shortly after.
“I look at how they are walking up to the spot,” Heukels explains. “How their face is holding itself, because you can think you’re looking cool but your face will tell me more and you will leak it all. I will look at body language and their interaction with the goalkeeper — whether they are looking at him or not.”
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