A symptom that United have not been going through one of their best recent times is Frank Ilett’s hair. The English club’s most famous fan has gone 493 days without a haircut. After a bad run of form for the Red Devils, he decided not to go to a hairdresser until his team won five games in a row. He is currently in Spain for the livestream organised by Double Tap for the match in which he can fulfil his challenge. Hours before the fifth game, against Paco Jemez’s West Ham, Frank spoke to MARCAQUESTION: How do you feel ahead of the fifth and decisive match?ANSWER: I’m very excited. It’s been a long time, I thought this would end in three or four months, but it has lasted much longer than I thought. I’m very excited to be able to get that fifth win and cut my hair.
Going back in time, how did the idea originally come about?A: I started spreading this on social media just for fun and it ended up going viral. The main thing was to try to make people laugh and make them smile.
No, I haven’t been offered money not to cut my hair tomorrow. There’s still time.
Has any Manchester United player spoken to you during all this time?
Not directly. Quite a few have been asked about me in interviews and they obviously know the challenge, but they certainly have more important things to worry about than my hair.
What did your family and friends say when you started this ‘madness’?
I think they’ve been having fun all along, although I don’t think they thought it would last this long.
What is the most incredible thing that has happened to you during all this time?
I think being able to talk to certain famous people or even the footballers themselves talking about me during this journey. It’s all been crazy.
You, better than anyone, know how difficult social media is to handle. Are there times when you’ve felt too much pressure?
Sometimes it’s difficult. I didn’t expect it to get so big at all. I’ve tried to focus on the positivity that has come my way, of course, on social media there’s always some negativity, but I try to forget about it.
I still don’t feel relief, I think it will come after the fifth victory
Now, after 493 days, you are about to achieve it. What have these days been like after United’s fourth victory?
I don’t feel relief yet, I think it will come after the fifth win. In football anything can happen, but the truth is that I’m excited. Since Carrick arrived we play very good football.
Has anyone offered you money not to get your hair cut tomorrow?
No, not yet. There’s still time.
If Manchester United win, will you 100% cut your hair?
I will definitely cut it and donate it to a charity that makes wigs for cancer patients.
This challenge has been simple but very long
What style are you going to get?
I think that, as I’m going to donate it, it has to be cut in strands. But then I think I’ll start from scratch and see what happens.
Do you really want Manchester United to win?
I’m a Manchester United fan and I want to see them win. I never wanted to be a content creator, so whatever comes after that is a bonus. The first thing is to see them win.
Would you ever do a challenge like this again in the future?
Maybe, although I think at least for a while I won’t. I feel like I need a break. This challenge has been simple but very long
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