Football

Ed Woodward claims Man Utd are doing everything they can to return to top as £800m spend sees them lie 12th


ED WOODWARD now looks at the newspapers through his fingers.

Yet he remains amazingly stoical — even if the rest of the football world wants to point the finger at him rather than the underachieving players.

 Ed Woodward says Man Utd are on the right course back to the top despite failing to get value for money from big buys

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Ed Woodward says Man Utd are on the right course back to the top despite failing to get value for money from big buys

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Or indeed the managers who have found the expectations at Manchester United too great.

The executive vice-chairman is outwardly relaxed for a man under such pressure and has had to bite his lip on accusations that he is to blame for all the bad signings.

Woodward got the money — more than £800million — and trusted the managers that have come in since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

Now he explains that revolutionising the recruitment department has been his main priority.

Woodward said: “There is a myth we have non-football people making football decisions.

“I think it’s insulting to the brilliant people who work in this club.

“Many of the senior staff on the football side have been in their roles for over ten years.

“Some of our scouts have worked with us for more than 25 years.

“We’ve expanded our recruitment department in recent years and we believe this now runs in an efficient and productive way.

HOW DID THEY SIGN FRED?

“Player recommendations and decisions are worked on by this department and by the first-team manager and his staff, not by senior management.”

Which still makes you wonder how they ended up with Fred.

But Woodward continues to work to make sure the right players are identified. He admits mistakes have been made, however unavoidable, in the wake of Sir Alex leaving.

In those days Fergie ruled the roost and his real genius is being realised more as the years go on.

It was all in his head and some scouts seemed reticent to put forward a player to first successor David Moyes as Sir Alex always led.

Then came serial winner Louis van Gaal to bring stability and a direction.

But there was a feeling the club could not question such an experienced coach over transfers.

Looking back they see his signings were simply not United players.

Players who had an X-factor, not just functional like Daley Blind.

 Under-pressure Man Utd manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer still has the strong public backing of Ed Woodward

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Under-pressure Man Utd manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer still has the strong public backing of Ed WoodwardCredit: PA:Empics Sport

After all, Paul Scholes was a terrible tackler but, could he pass and score.

Jose Mourinho could not bear the thought of having a sporting director above him, which is why, after winning the League Cup and Europa League in his first season 2016-17, nobody was brought in.

The idea of questioning a man of Mourinho’s stature was not a good one.

United found that out when his reign fell apart after being denied a centre-back — Harry Maguire, who they have now bought.

Now things have changed, with a huge database of potential targets — 804 right-backs were analysed before Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s arrival.

Current boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looked the right man during that run of 14 wins in his first 17 games. But players were not fit enough to carry that on — not as fit as under Van Gaal or Moyes.

They claimed after Mourinho’s exit last December that the mental toll of his closing months took it out of them.

EXPENSIVE FLOP INJURED AGAIN

Increased scrutiny from him and the media was apparently too much — too much, some in the hierarchy believe, for Alexis Sanchez.

An expensive flop now at Inter Milan on loan. And injured again.

That scrutiny, from fans and the media, has cranked up a notch now as the team continue to struggle.

Woodward trusts in a way forward with the club’s academy at its centre, while big spending will still go on.

He added: “Last season we were the Premier League’s leading club in terms of the most match minutes given to our own academy graduates.

“We should all be proud that the significant investments we have made in our academy — spanning recruitment,
facilities and analytics — are now bearing fruit.

“There’s a lot more to do but that’s coming in the next few years.

 England hopeful Aaron Wan-Bissaka was only signed from Crystal Palace after Man Utd looked at 802 right-backs

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England hopeful Aaron Wan-Bissaka was only signed from Crystal Palace after Man Utd looked at 802 right-backsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

“We know this is a strong competitive advantage and an area we’ll continue to focus on. But this remains the heart of the club.”

Indeed Woodward and Solskjaer want to produce a group of “humble and arrogant” players.

Humble enough to wear the club suit with a tie and the top button done up and then sign autographs.

Arrogant enough to put on a United shirt and believe in themselves.

The majority believe many of these core values have been tossed aside at the expense of commercial gain. Woodward disagrees. He said: “The reality of Manchester United is we are a club in two parts.

“We are an incredible 141-year footballing institution with all that history, legacy, tradition and that tradition of success. That can never, ever change. We need to protect that.

“Then, like other football clubs, our commercial business allows us to reinvest in the football side. It’s how these two sides interact that results in us having a competitive advantage.

“What’s important is the commercial side is never allowed to take priority over the football side.”

The path Woodward and Solskjaer have laid out seems the right one. The question is whether they first properly get on it, then stay on it.

Man Utd face 8pm kick-off at Arsenal on New Year’s Day as TV fixtures announced





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