Ed targeting perfect blend for trophy bid
ED Woodward has outlined that United’s goal is to win trophies with a team that is a blend of academy talent alongside world-class signings.
Since Sir Alex Ferguson left in 2013, the Reds have been unable to win the Premier League, and executive vice-chairman Woodward stressed their target remains the same but they have a club philosophy on the way trophies should be won.
“Our ultimate goal is to win trophies, playing fast, fluid, attacking football – with a team that fuses graduates from our academy along with world-class acquisitions,” Woodward said yesterday as the Reds announced a pre-tax profit of £2.5m for their most recent quarter.
“We know this will not be achieved over night but investments in recruitment and academy have set us on right path.”
United bought three players in the summer and the understanding is that if the right player becomes available in January, the club will go in for them but it is a difficult market.
Over the past few years their recruitment strategy has been criticised, with United failing to compete for the title in the Premier League and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ultimately ending up with a squad which isn’t good enough to challenge at the top.
However, Woodward said investment has been made in recruitment and they’re all working towards the same vision.
“Over the last few years, we have significantly invested in our recruitment infrastructure to augment our already strong and experienced recruitment team, all of whom who are all working to a clear philosophy,” he added.
“This is demonstrated by the signing of Harry Maguire, Dan James and Aaron WanBissaka, who have all settled in well. We will continue with our strategy to promote the best of the players graduating from our academy together with material investment in the coming summers to strengthen our young squad further and challenge for trophies.”
Solskjaer is looking at the possibility of bringing fresh faces into the squad when the window opens in the new year, but the understanding is United will only invest if the right player is available.
“We have a clear vision in terms of football philosophy and recruitment,” Woodward said. “The significant investments that we have made in recent years in areas such as transfers, recruitment infrastructure, analytics and our Academy are already beginning to bear fruit. “We are very proud to be shortly approaching a milestone 4,000th game featuring an Academy player, and we are particularly optimistic regarding the considerable young talent currently coming through. “Our ultimate goal is to win trophies by playing exciting football with a team that fuses graduates from our Academy with world-class acquisitions.”
The financial results show that wages at the club are down 8.8 per cent to £70.2m due to reductions in salaries as a result of United’s nonparticipation in the Champions League. And the forecast is that they
Ed Woodward