At Manchester United’s last game against Burnley at Turf Moore fans decided to fly a plane banner over the stadium with the words “Ed Woodward out!”. The Manchester United executive vice-chairman has been heavily criticized for his inability to support and get the targets Jose Mourinhio desired.
United legend Gary Neville has also expressed disappointment with the lack of support the club showed their manager in the summer.
“He had to get him Maguire, he had to get him Alderweireld because they wouldn’t have made those mistakes, and irrespective of the manager of Manchester United, they need new centre backs………My view is that Alderweireld and Maguire would have been good options. If it cost £120million to bring them in then that’s what you have to do when you are backing Jose Mourinho. You back him.”- Gary Neville
Manchester United is currently valued by Forbes as the most valuable football team in the world. Fans have realized that the club-spend this summer did not reflect the financial ability of the club, especially after the ease by which rivals Manchester City won the league last term.
Because of this, fans’ frustration has moved away from the manager and towards the club executive board. In United’s last two matches Mourinho was even applauded by the Red Devils fans who are becoming more sympathetic to the manager with each game.
Jürgen Klopp, once critical of big spending managers, became one himself, as he and Liverpool spent over two times as much as Manchester United this summer.
Signings:
Alisson(Roma)- €67 million
Naby Keita(RB Leipzig)- €60 million
Fabinho(Monaco)- €45 million
Xherdan Shaqiri(Stoke)- €15 million
Total: €187 million
Chelsea now owns the most expensive goalkeeper of all-time in Kepa Arrizabalaga. Sarri also convinced Italian international Jorginho to re-join him in West London.
Signings:
Kepa(Athletic Bilbao)- €80 million
Jorginho(Napoli)- €57 million
Robert Green(Huddersfield)- Free
Mateo Kovacic(Real Madrid)- Loan
Total: €137 million