IF only the optimism in the Old Trafford boardroom could have been replicated in the stands.
A few hours before Sunday’s mauling by Liverpool, both new CEO Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth spoke positively and enthusiastically about the future at Manchester United.
About how they had the right structure in place at Old Trafford and, yes, the right coach for sustained success.
Then came the reality check and a 3-0 home defeat at the hands of their most-hated rivals.
There might be a new management team, a new coaching team around Erik ten Hag and new players in what has appeared to be a successful transfer window but it was the same old United.
Still, Berrada and Ashworth have only been at Old Trafford two months, while new part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his right-hand man Sir David Brailsford are still getting to grips with this monster of a football club.
Listen to Berrada and Ashworth speaking openly before the game and there is a clear belief that in the future they will have the team tearing apart all that comes before them once more.
Berrada — who was poached from “noisy neighbours” Manchester City — claims he can feel the excitement at United over the prospect of returning the club to their former glories.
The Moroccan, 46, said: “I can sense it. I’m very excited and very optimistic at what we have in front of us. I think we’re starting to put the right pieces in place and I’m absolutely convinced that we’re going to be successful.”
As the former chief operating officer at the Etihad, Berrada knows what is needed to create the foundations for success.
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He added: “When you look at the teams who have been consistently successful for many years, it’s because they have the right coach, they have signed the right players, they have the right structure around the coach and the players.
“And you need to take good decisions consistently for many years to get into a position where you are a financially sustainable club that is competing to win every single competition.
“That is where we want to be. We don’t want to just win one Premier League and then be satisfied.
“We want to create a team that is capable of competing for the Champions League, for the Premier League and for the domestic cups on a consistent basis.
“So, to build that, we need to be doing more of what we have done in this window.
“We have addressed priority positions that were identified very early on and we were able to do it in a financially sustainable way.”
Rather than the scattergun approach of the past, United have had a more measured summer transfer window with ins and outs making sure they stay within the new financial guidelines.
They brought in five players in striker Joshua Zirkzee, defensive midfielder Manuel Ugarte and defenders Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui for an initial cost of £172.1million.
Ashworth is well used to the workings of a transfer window having been at West Brom, Brighton and, most recently, Newcastle.
And he is satisfied with what Ten Hag has to work with following their summer spend.
Ashworth, 53, said: “I like the squad, I have to say — I probably would say that after the business we’ve done in the summer.
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“I’ve probably done 25 windows now and been doing this for a fair period of time.
“I don’t think there’s ever been a window where we’ve gone, ‘Oh God, it’s gone absolutely perfectly’.
“In the main, the target positions we wanted to strengthen, the players we’ve brought in, the depth and options when everybody is fully fit that Erik has and we have as a club, I’m pleased with that, yeah.”
Another major piece of business saw the club tie captain Bruno Fernandes down to a new contract — which could run until 2028 — when the 29-year-old had suggested he could be on his way.
Ashworth said: “He’s been brilliant since he’s been here, his game availability is fantastic — I hope I haven’t jinxed that.
“His output on and off the pitch is really good and the influence he brings to the other players as captain, I can’t speak highly enough of him.
“It was a crucial part of the transfer strategy as well.”
The club also brought in £100m with Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s sale to West Ham and Scott McTominay’s move to Napoli the most notable departures.
They also managed to get rid of Jadon Sancho to Chelsea on loan with an obligation to buy next summer — even if they are still paying a chunk of his wages.
Winger Sancho, 24, had looked like he might still have a career at United having supposedly made up with Ten Hag, who played him in a false nine role during pre-season.
But it became clear there needed to be a parting of the ways as he was left out of the squads for the first two games of the season.
Ashworth added: “Whether it’s Jadon, whether it’s Scott or whether it’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka, if there’s a preference that they would like to move and go to a new club and it’s right for them and it’s right for us, then you have to explore it.
“We felt we had enough depth in that particular position to be able to cover it.
“We’ve got four really good wide players, Jadon was a fifth and it just enabled us to make that decision that if it was good for him and good for us, it was something we were willing to consider.
“He wanted to explore the opportunity at Chelsea, like Scott wanted to explore the opportunity at Napoli, like Aaron wanted to explore the opportunity at West Ham.
“We’re not in a position where we’re kicking players out.”
The balancing of the books is vital in the game with the financial rules and regulations which now exist and it is something Berrada agrees with.
He said: “The fundamental principle of the rules, we are in favour of, which is that we need to operate sustainably.
“In order to do that, it’s obviously taking good football decisions, ins and outs, developing academy players that can contribute to the first team.
“It’s also managing a good business. Growing your revenues, managing your costs properly.”
With that all said, Berrada and Ashworth then proceeded to have a pre-match lunch before taking their seats in the directors’ box for the Liverpool game.
And then the size of the job before them became very apparent.
MANCHESTER UNITED had a horror show against Liverpool as they lost 3-0.
Casemiro was so bad he was taken off at half-time.
But were there any positive performances at Old Trafford?
Andre Onana – 5
Nothing he could do about any of Liverpool’s goals and made a few saves to prevent the scoreline from getting worse.
Noussair Mazraoui – 5
Came close to scoring in the first half and looked solid enough against Diaz although he did push up too high before Liverpool’s opener.
Matthijs de Ligt – 4
Left Diaz and Domink Szobozslai in acres of space for the opening goal but was left in a tricky spot thanks to Casemiro’s error.
Booked for a shocking late tackle on Diaz.
Lisandro Martinez – 3
Lost Diaz for the second goal which meant the Colombian was able to score unmarked from the penalty spot.
Also guilty of giving away the ball too easily and was not tight enough with his marking.
Diogo Dalot – 4
Was caught out pushing up too quickly for the first goal and did not do enough to stop Mo Salah’s cross in the build-up to Liverpool’s second.
Looked dangerous in attack at times but too infrequently as he had plenty of defensive work to do since Rashford did not track Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Casemiro – 2
A horror show in the first half as he gave the ball away in the lead up to both of Liverpool’s goals.
He was caught on the ball for the second after a shocking misplaced pass left his defence vulnerable for the opening goal. Hooked at half-time.
Kobbie Mainoo – 4
Fell victim to the Casemiro curse as he was shrugged off the ball in a terrible position, allowing Liverpool to add a third with ease.
Bruno Fernandes – 5
Was United’s most creative spark but that is not saying much. Tried to get his side going in the first half but looked short of ideas and inspiration after the break.
Alejandro Garnacho – 4
Still appears to be a little rusty and is yet to hit the heights he reached last season.
Marcus Rashford – 3
Nothing came off for the out-of-sorts forward who must be running out of chances before he is dropped.
Joshua Zirkzee – 4
Quiet up-front and had little influence on the wing as well, but missed a clear-cut chance with his head and should have turned in Rashford’s cross which he met at the far post.
Subs
Tom Collyer (for Casemiro, HT) – 5
A difficult game for the youngster to make his Premier League debut but he put himself about and won a few tackles.
Harry Maguire (for De Ligt, 69mins) – 5
Shored things up at the back as Liverpool took their foot off the pedal.
Amad (for Garnacho, 69mins) – 5
Provided a spark on the right and looked more lively than Garnacho.
Christian Eriksen (for Zirkzee, 86mins) – N/A
Not on long enough to make an impact.
