Avram Glazer has offered a brief update on Manchester United’s summer plans and strongly hinted funds will be made available to Erik ten Hag.
The United owner was speaking a day after the club’s worst ever Premier League season concluded with a 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace. It was a fitting end to a miserable campaign, which saw the Red Devils qualify for the Europa League only by virtue of other results going their way.
This was despite United bringing in Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo into a squad which finished as runners-up in the 2020/21 season. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was expected to take United to the next level, but only lasted until November when he was sacked at the end of a dreadful run of form.
Ralf Rangnick was subsequently named as interim boss, but after a positive start, United's underperforming stars struggled to adapt to his methods and finished a whopping 35 points behind champions and local rivals Manchester City.
The final weeks of the season have been punctuated by protests against the Glazers, with supporters furious at the decline seen under the American ownership. Sky News caught up with co-owner at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he was asked for a review of the recently completed season.
“I don’t think this is now the time to talk about it,” Glazer said. “It is a disappointing season, it’s a disappointing season for everyone and we’re going to work hard to make next season a better one.”
Back in Manchester, Ten Hag was officially unveiled as the club’s fifth permanent successor to Sir Alex Ferguson with the Dutchman meeting the press for the first time since replacing Rangnick. Pressed on whether he had belief in the new coach, the 61-year-old added: “That’s why we hired him and he’s going to do a great job,” and on transfers said: "We’ve always spent the money necessary to buy new players" in a hint they will continue to spend.
Ten Hag cut a positive figure at his first press conference and assured fans they will be able to break the Premier League duopoly of Man City and Liverpool in the near future.
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The two clubs have shared the last five titles between them, with the Reds the only side that have been able to wrestle City’s grip from the title.
"I admire them both, Manchester City and Liverpool," said Ten Hag. "They both play fantastic football. But you will always see an era come to an end.I've already met big coaches and big teams in the Premier League and I know how to deal with that. But it's clear, the Premier League is the biggest league in the world I think and I'm looking forward to battling with them.
"We have to set clear purposes, you need people who have a positive attitude. Players dictate the way of play, when I have the idea, I will line-up my best team and get the best out of them to make them feel comfortable. It is about getting success together.”
