UNITED IN FIRST-RATE BID

Director Ashworth spells out aim to return Old Trafford side to the required standards’

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Manchester United sporting director Dan Ashworth said on July 22 that the club's new hierarchy is determined to restore the team's tarnished reputation after "falling below the required standards" last season.

The 53-year-old is part of a new football brain trust at Old Trafford installed by Jim Ratcliffe after the British billionaire purchased a minority stake in the Red Devils.

Ratcliffe has control over United's football operations and earlier in 2024 underlined his determination to knock Manchester City "off their perch" as the English Premier League's dominant force.

United finished eighth and 31 points behind champions City in the league, but gave a glimpse of their potential by beating Pep Guardiola's side in the FA Cup final.

That proved enough to save Erik ten Hag's job after the United manager was reportedly close to the sack.

Ashworth, who took up his new role at the start of July after leaving Newcastle, admitted it is not enough that United are a commercial powerhouse, because the onpitch performance lags behind their financial strength.