Never in Ed Woodward’s chat with the club’s investors was Louis van Gaal’s name mentioned.
The Manchester United chief executive gabbed optimistically with club investors during a conference call, this afternoon.
United’s Champions League hopes may be out on a raggy limb but the financial numbers are, for the most part, going up. Woodward revealed United are on course to take in annual revenue of £500 million for the first time in the club’s history.
The club has enjoyed a record-breaking first quarter in 2016 and, Woodward declared, they have the money for a summer “retooling” of the squad.
Woodward insisted the money was there to bring in players over the summer but made no mention of current coach Louis van Gaal’s position or that of his own. Both men have been under fire – Woodward longer than the Dutchman – for poor on-field performances and a series of botched transfers.
Ed Woodward strikes again? https://t.co/OHtnZJO0W0
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) May 10, 2016
The potential cost of missing out on the Champions League next season [£30m] will be offset by the new Premier League TV that ensures greater revenue for all 20 clubs.
Seeking to accentuate the positives, Woodward clung to the emergence of several new, young talents and the fact that United are contesting next weekend’s F.A Cup final. He said:
“Three of our first-team regulars – Jesse Lingard, Marcus Rashford and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson – have been here since they were eight years old.
“We are the highest producer of academy players in the Premier League. We have won three of the last four under-21 titles, which is an impressive achievement given the number of players who have moved up to the first team.”
All those U21 titles. Perhaps Warren Joyce, their coach, should be getting a promotion soon.
Woodward signed off by pining for the club’s record-equalling 12th F.A Cup success and that was that.
Not a single ‘When’s Louis packing up?, ‘Why are you still here?’ or ‘Where’s Jose?’ was uttered.
