Woodward in praise of ‘tremendous progress’
ED Woodward insists United have made ‘tremendous progress’ during their first season under Jose Mourinho.
United won their fifth EFL Cup in February but seem destined to finish sixth in the Premier League – lower than they managed in either of Louis van Gaal’s campaigns.
But Mourinho could still return United to the Champions League through Europa League glory in next week’s final and executive vice-chairman Woodward remains upbeat about the direction in which the club is heading.
“We’re approaching the end of a compelling season – our first with Jose Mourinho as manager – and I believe we’ve made tremendous progress both on and off the pitch,” he said in United’s quarterly conference call.
“It’s been an incredibly busy season, which will see us play 64 matches, including an astonishing nine matches last month.
“In the league, we set a new club-record of 25 matches unbeaten within a single season, we’ve won the FA Community Shield, the EFL Cup and we are obviously delighted to have reached the final of the Europa League in Stockholm next Wednesday.”
If United fail to qualify for the Champions League they will suffer a 30 per cent reduction (£21m) in the following year’s payment of their kit deal with German sportswear giant Adidas. JOSE Mourinho has confirmed he will stick to his decision to field youth players against Crystal Palace on Sunday because the Premier League will not bring the game forward by 24 hours.
The Manchester United manager is adamant his side should be given more time to prepare for next week’s Europa League final against Ajax.
With United guaranteed to finish sixth - and Palace having avoided relegation, Mourinho insists the final game of the season should be played on Saturday.
Because the authorities will not reschedule, he says he has no choice but to name a team largely made up of academy players. Joel Pereira, Demitri Mitchell and Scott McTominay are all set to start at Old Trafford.
Zachary Dearnley, Matty Willock and Josh Harrop will also be included in the squad, along with Paul Pogba, after the midfielder was given compassionate leave following the death of his father.
Mourinho said: “In any country in the world, the match would be on Saturday.
“We are sixth. It doesn’t matter. Crystal Palace are safe so I think after the moment Crystal Palace beat Hull and Hull are relegated and Swansea are safe, the match has to be Saturday. But it’s going to be Sunday. It’s frustrating for me.
“I hope the fans at Old Trafford support the team and they forgive some naivety and lack of confidence.
“I hope Big Sam shows he’s a good friend and they go slow. He leaves (Wilfried) Zaha and (Christian) Benteke at home and he goes soft on us.”
Asked if he’d reached out to the Premier League to reschedule the Palace game, Mourinho added: “I don’t lose time. I know the battle is lost. I don’t fight about it.
“I am here seven years. I never saw any detail trying to care about the English teams involved in European competitions.
“I never saw Chelsea, United, City last year. I never saw.
“I think it is just a lost battle - we have to accept the way it is.
“I will bring in Mitchell and McTominay, who were on the bench tonight. Axel (Tuanzebe), of course. “(Eric) Bailly and Willock will come too. Josh Harrop and Zachary will come. “Pogba will come because he’s not training or playing since his dad passed away and I will put two or three of my boys in, rotating during the game and making changes. “I need to give structure of four or five of my boys to give stablity to the kids. “I don’t think they will be in position to play the game.”