Manchester United chief executive Richard Arnold has admitted last season was "disappointing" but vowed new boss Erik ten Hag will turn things around.
United finished the season in sixth place, 35 points behind champions Manchester City and with 58 points, their lowest total of the Premier League era. Against that backdrop, Arnold, who succeeded Ed Woodward as United chief executive, acknowledged it had been a poor season, but said work was ongoing to turn the situation around.
Arnold said: “It has clearly been a disappointing season for the men’s first-team. Work is well underway to address this, led by our Football Director, John Murtough and our new manager, Erik ten Hag.
"Resilience and high standards are core values for Manchester United, and we are determined to achieve better results next season and beyond. Faith in youth is another key tenet of the club and the continued success of our Academy gives us confidence in the future.
"Looking at the wider football landscape, we have seen significant developments in the reform of FIFA’s Agent Regulations, access criteria for UEFA club competitions post-2024 and UEFA Financial Fair Play rules.
"Overall, these changes demonstrate a welcome trend towards stronger governance and greater financial sustainability in European football. Off the pitch, our revenues have continued to recover from the pandemic, reflecting the enduring strength of our commercial operations, which in turn support our ability to continue to invest in the club.”
Ten Hag was the “standout choice" to become Manchester United's new permanent boss, according to Murtough. Murtough said ten Hag was the manager “most closely aligned with the identity and aims of United”, including a commitment to attacking football and developing young players.
“He showed passion, energy and enthusiasm for the challenge,” Murtough told a meeting of United’s Fans’ Forum, which took place before ten Hag was officially introduced as the new man in charge.
Planning is also under way for a major redevelopment of the club’s training facilities to ensure they remain among the very best at elite level football. Murtough said: “It’s all about making sure we are creating the right environment and culture in which players can perform to their maximum potential.”
United begin pre-season training under ten Hag on June 27, before embarking on a two-and-a-half week tour of Thailand and Australia on July 8, ahead of the new Premier League campaign, which begins on August 6.
