New Man Utd CEO Richard Arnold reacts to ‘disappointing’ season and works to rectify it

Manchester United finished underperforming sixth in the Premier League after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick failed to give their Old Trafford stars success

Manchester United chief executive Richard Arnold has admitted last season was “disappointing” but new boss Erik ten Hag is vowed to turn things around.

United ended the season in sixth place, 35 points behind champions Manchester City and their lowest total of the Premier League era at 58 points. Against this backdrop, Arnold, Ed Woodward’s successor as United CEO, acknowledged it had been a poor season but said work is underway to reverse the situation.

Arnold said: “It was clearly a disappointing season for the men’s first team. It is being worked on under the guidance of our director of football, John Murtough, and our new manager, Erik ten Hag.

“Resilience and high standards are core values ​​for Manchester United and we are determined to deliver better results next season and beyond. Faith in youth is another important tenet of the club and the continued success of our academy gives us confidence for the future.

“Looking at the broader football landscape, we have seen significant developments in the reform of the FIFA Agents Regulations, the entry criteria for UEFA club competitions after 2024 and the UEFA Financial Fair Play rules.

“Overall, these changes show a welcome trend towards stronger governance and greater financial sustainability in European football. Off the pitch, our revenue has continued to recover from the pandemic, reflecting the continued strength of our commercial activities which in turn support our ability to continue investing in the club.”

According to Murtough, Ten Hag was the “outstanding choice” to become Manchester United’s new permanent boss. Murtough said ten Hag was the manager “most closely associated with United’s identity and aspirations”, including a commitment to attacking football and young player development.

“He showed passion, energy and enthusiasm for the challenge,” Murtough said at a United fan forum meeting that took place before ten Hag was officially unveiled as the new manager.

A major overhaul of the club’s training facilities is also planned to ensure they remain among the very best in elite football. Murtough said, “It’s about making sure we create the right environment and culture for players to reach their maximum potential.”

United begin pre-season training under ten Hag on June 27 before heading out on a two-and-a-half week tour of Thailand and Australia on July 8 before the new Premier League season begins on August 6.

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