Soccer Football - Pre Season Friendly - Rangers v Manchester United - Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain - July 20, 2024 Manchester United's Leny Yoro before the match Action Images via Reuters/Ed Sykes/File Photo
MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Coach Erik ten Hag insisted last season could have turned out very differently had injuries not hindered Manchester United's progress, but further setbacks ahead of the new campaign have dampened the mood around Old Trafford once again.
New co-owner, British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, has assumed control of soccer matters at English football's most successful club and has begun to make drastic changes, at boardroom level as well as on the pitch.
Plans are afoot to build a new stadium to rival any sporting arena in the world. Supporters, however, are most keen to see changes made to the squad in the short term, after United finished in their lowest ever Premier League position last season.
Above Ten Hag, who signed a new contract following United's FA Cup final victory over Manchester City, Ratcliffe and his INEOS company have brought in Dan Ashworth as sporting director, Jason Wilcox as technical director and poached Omar Berrada from City as CEO ahead of the new campaign.
"We are so pleased that around the football, around the first-team, we have a strong structure that will help us," Ten Hag told MUTV last month.
"They are supportive and that will help us in many ways, like in scouting and recruitment, like in the departments of medical and performance. They will be so supportive and that will raise the bar."
The start of the transfer window got fans further excited as United brought in striker Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna, as well as in-demand teenage defender Leny Yoro – both in positions that were seen as a must for reinforcements.
However, Yoro has suffered a foot injury that will keep him out for three months, while Lisandro Martinez, who would likely have partnered Yoro in central defence, has only just returned to full training after an injury-hit campaign last term.
The player Netherlands international Zirkzee is meant to provide cover for, Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund, limped out of the pre-season friendly loss to Arsenal and will miss the start of the season. Several other key players are up against it to be ready for Saturday's Community Shield clash with champions Manchester City.
With the hierarchy in place to identify new recruits, more incomings are expected, with central midfield a priority problem area.
More injury woes increase the nee for more numbers too, to give Ten Hag the tools he needs to restore United to former glories.
(Reporting by Peter Hall, editing by Ed Osmond)
