United have signed the likes of Sancho, Varane, and Ronaldo this season in order to help Solskjaer win his first trophy as the manager.
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Manchester United have not had the best of starts to the new European season, especially after a demoralizing defeat at the hands of BSC Young Boys in their first UEFA Champions League match on Tuesday. However, chief executive Ed Woodward is in high spirits for the new season. United finished runners-up in both the league and the UEFA Europa League last season. They have signed the likes of Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane, and Cristiano Ronaldo this season in order to help manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer win his first trophy as the manager of the club. Woodward said that he was “more confident than ever that we are on the right track” on the pitch.
“We said during the depths of the pandemic that the club would emerge in a stronger relative position, and I believe we are now seeing that borne out as we build towards recovery from a very solid foundation,” he said. “The most important part of this recovery is the return of fans to Old Trafford and it has been fantastic to see and hear the stadium full for the first time in almost 18 months. The amazing atmosphere during the opening home games of the season demonstrates that fans are the lifeblood of the game, and we’re so glad to have them back,” Woodward added.
Woodward also praised Solskjaer for United’s strong start to the season. The club’s last domestic fixture resulted in a 4-1 victory against Newcastle United at Old Trafford. The match also saw Ronaldo scoring twice on his return to the Red Devils. “We significantly strengthened the squad over the summer, with the addition of Cristiano Ronaldo, Raphael Varane, Jadon Sancho and Tom Heaton. These signings have demonstrated our continued ability to attract some of the world’s best footballers to Old Trafford, and our firm commitment to helping Ole deliver success on the pitch,” Woodward continued.
“We have been clear in our strategy to build a squad with a blend of top-class recruits and homegrown talent, comprising a balance of youth and experience, with the aim of winning trophies and playing attacking football the Manchester United way. As part of this, we have continued to strengthen our recruitment and scouting processes, and we have also increased our investment in the Academy, to ensure that this success is sustainable. While squad-building is a constant process, we are more confident than ever that we are on the right track,” he added.
Woodward also emphasized the women’s team’s strong start to the season, with two wins in the first two games of their Women’s Super League campaign under new Head Coach Marc Skinner. While the pandemic had an impact on the club’s financials, Woodward said they were able to deal with the disruption better than many other clubs due to the strength of the business model.
“It is not an accident that we have been able to invest this summer at a time when many clubs have been retrenching. This reflects the strong commercial model we have built over many years, ensuring that our spending is always underpinned by revenues that we generate ourselves,” he said.
