Never underestimate the power of a crowd. It's staggering how John Henry, the Glazers and Stan Kroenke managed to get it so wrong.
Liverpool chief Henry was the first to front up on Wednesday morning with a grovelling apology after sitting quiet for two days and watching his manager Jurgen Klopp having to face the music for a decision that wasn't his to defend.
At Manchester United, much-maligned chief executive Ed Woodward has outlined his plan to leave the club by the end of the year. Is he falling on his sword, or is he walking out on principle?