# Omar Berrada On Transfers, Finances, Season Review & The Future... | Inside Carrington: Ep 31

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXyh9ifSv7s

[00:05] That that's what we're about.
[00:07] It's about winning.
[00:09] It's about success across the men's, the women's at the academy.
[00:11] I worry about ticket prices over.
[00:13] That's our number one goal is to win trophies.
[00:17] Honestly, I I wake up every day thinking it's a privilege to be at the club and it's also a massive responsibility.
[00:23] I'm naturally optimistic by by nature, although my wife says I should smile more.
[00:31] Welcome, Omar.
[00:33] Thank you.
[00:33] We're in June the 2nd.
[00:35] It's the day that I seem to meet you every year.
[00:37] How do you see Manchester United at the moment?
[00:42] The season has just finished.
[00:44] Well, we're in a much better place than we were a year ago.
[00:49] Um, clearly the team, the men's first team has performed better than last season.
[00:55] Um we we've seen over the last few months some really good performances, some really good wins.
[01:02] So the team is heading in the right direction.
[01:02] Um as a club overall,
[01:05] We we're on a much better place.
[01:08] Uh as we discussed a year ago, we had to take some very difficult decisions and ultimately those decisions have allowed us to make the right investments in football to really put us where we are today, which is uh back in the Champions League next season and in a really good position to continue building on what we've seen over the last months.
[01:31] We mentioned the men's team, the women's team as well, the academy.
[01:34] It's not just the men's first team, is it?
[01:36] Absolutely.
[01:38] Overall, what we've seen is um the women's team, they played in the Champions League for the first time, did really well, went all the way to the quarterfinals.
[01:45] Unfortunately, we couldn't go any further.
[01:47] We probably fell short in the WSL.
[01:49] We would have wanted to finish at least in the top three positions, but we understand that it is difficult to compete on all fronts.
[01:55] They, as you know, made the final that league cup as well.
[01:59] So, we are very proud of what the women's team has achieved.
[02:00] we need to now continue working with uh Matt Johnson, Mark and others to see how we continue growing in
[02:08] in in the women's team and in the academy as well.
[02:10] You know, some really good successes.
[02:12] Um we've seen some really good development from young players coming up and you know, ultimately it's it's an essential part of what this club is is to have youth players come out from the academy and contribute to the first teams, men and women's.
[02:26] So, we're looking forward to to seeing more of that in the next years.
[02:30] We've just seen the Q3 financial results.
[02:32] What is the current financial situation at Manchester United?
[02:37] So, as I said, we're we're in a much better position.
[02:38] Um, we had to take some hard decisions.
[02:42] We which, you know, primarily the goal was to get us into a more sustainable position so that we can continue investing on and off the pitch really.
[02:53] And we have done that.
[02:56] My my sense is the worst is behind us and we are now in a much better position to to continue evolving to continue growing to continue investing and to really be
[03:08] where the club needs to be is competing on all fronts.
[03:11] There is a complicated debt structure at Manchester United.
[03:14] Is that is that difficult to work with?
[03:17] Can the club still be financially profitable and do well with it?
[03:21] Absolutely.
[03:21] and and the club has shown that it can be uh not only profitable but more importantly win trophies uh with the current structure that we have and our aim is to continue to do that.
[03:36] You know the ultimately this club has a lot of inherent benefits.
[03:39] It's a massive club as we all know in my opinion the biggest club in the world and when we take the right
[03:46] you've worked at Barcelona you've worked at Manchester City you say Manchester United is the biggest club in the world
[03:52] there's no doubt in my mind that it is uh from what I've seen since I've joined it it's the biggest club it has a very very strong uh core fan base that's linked to the city linked to the the community and the region and worldwide uh every time I've gone anywhere people
[04:09] talk about the club.
[04:11] They know what the club is about.
[04:13] They're very passionate about the club.
[04:15] So, we're very fortunate to have probably the biggest fan base in the world.
[04:20] And you know, it is a responsibility for us to continue taking the right decisions over over a consistent period of time to give our fans here in Manchester and all over the world the the success that they deserve.
[04:32] What would progress look like next season for Manchester United?
[04:37] So I think at Manchester United success is always measured by winning trophies.
[04:43] That that's what we're about.
[04:44] It's about winning.
[04:46] It's about success across the men's, the women's, the academy.
[04:49] And that's what we want to do.
[04:51] I think our aim for next season is to be more competitive in all the competitions.
[04:57] So we're going to be playing the Champions League.
[04:58] That's going to there's going to be an increased demand on on the squad.
[05:01] Um, but we believe that we have the right coach, the right players, the the right setup around the the men's first team to to be able to compete in the
[05:12] Champions League, get closer to competing to win the Premier League and also do well in the domestic cups.
[05:19] So, continuing improvement.
[05:21] When we spoke a year ago, you said that the aim was for a European finish.
[05:26] I sort of took that as Europa League will be sufficient.
[05:28] Has it been an overachievement with the Champions League finish?
[05:31] We always wanted to be in the top uh places.
[05:34] So, our our goal was a Champions League.
[05:36] It's true that when you you looked at the way the season finished and uh it felt like a big jump to be able to go from 15th to the top four positions.
[05:45] But that was our aspiration.
[05:47] And as the season went along and we saw how the signings were integrating themselves in the team and they were doing well, we saw some really good progress from other players that were signed a year before that plus all the players that had been here for for a while.
[06:01] um we we started to believe that we could actually make it uh in the top three, top four uh positions and and ultimately the the the players have shown that they they could do it and as I said, you know, they did it very well.
[06:13] by winning some very big matches and playing some, you know, really nice football.
[06:18] What was your highlighter last season?
[06:20] Where did you celebrate most?
[06:20] Where did you get told off for standing up and over celebrating?
[06:25] I think the two games that stand out for me were uh Michael's first two games.
[06:27] So against City at home and and Arsenal, um I thought our performance against City was was brilliant.
[06:35] The free flowing football, some really nice counterattacking football that I think all of our fans like to see.
[06:43] Um and then going to the Emirates and after Kuna scored the third goal.
[06:49] Patrick scored an amazing goal, but getting that winning goal from from Kuna, the the feeling was was fantastic.
[06:58] You're talking about an improvement.
[07:00] I think fans assume that new players will be brought in.
[07:03] What is the current state of the of the transfer market with regards to Manchester United going into it?
[07:10] Have the club got good money to spend?
[07:12] Is it looking like a difficult
[07:14] market? I remember you saying to me 24 was difficult because you just come in, 25 was much more balanced and I think we've seen that the players who brought in last year have been successful.
[07:24] What's 26 looking like?
[07:27] I think the the template for for what we did last summer will will be replicated in many ways.
[07:33] You you always go into a window.
[07:35] You you don't know how you're going to come out of it, but you have to be really prepared.
[07:40] You have to have a clear plan.
[07:42] You have to know exactly what positions you're you're looking to to straighten.
[07:47] And and you also have to be prepared for any eventuality.
[07:48] Uh there could be exits that we not expecting.
[07:52] there could be uh opportunities in the market that perhaps weren't there at the beginning of the window.
[07:57] So, we have to be ready.
[07:58] We have to be agile and flexible, but we have a clear plan.
[08:01] Uh Jason Wilcox and his team are are very well set up to to execute that plan.
[08:07] And and I do think that what we saw last season is is a good way forward for us, which is we want a mix
[08:15] of experience and youth.
[08:18] We want a mix of uh players that that that have demonstrated they can perform in the Premier League and perhaps also with players that are doing very well outside the Premier League.
[08:26] Um but we will always do it within our our terms and ensuring that whatever decision we take is not just for the short term but also for the long term.
[08:37] Is United attractive to players or do you get some agents thinking you can get more money out of you than than other clubs?
[08:44] How do you play it from your side?
[08:46] We we have to be really disciplined.
[08:48] Uh it's simple.
[08:51] We we have a plan.
[08:55] We we know what we can invest.
[08:56] Um and and we have to stick to that.
[09:00] In in some cases, you know, we we may decide to to make an investment uh knowing that it's the right thing for not just the next two three years, but for the next 10 years.
[09:06] Um but clearly we we need to stay very focused on what we're trying to achieve.
[09:14] And it's it's very important that you
[09:16] don't let the market or the agents dictate what we should be doing.
[09:21] Uh and I think when I look at the football leadership team um plus the investment that we've made in Michael Sanony's team on the data side um we're we're we're in a pretty good shape and I think the quality of the decisions will continue to improve as as a team settles and and we continue investing in those areas.
[09:40] You mentioned working with Jason, but how involved are you in the transfer market?
[09:43] Are the times when you're the one calling the clubs because you've got the contacts, you've got the languages, you've been around.
[09:50] Yeah.
[09:50] Uh so Jason and his team are the ones who are leading.
[09:57] Um I I'm very well connected in the sense that I speak to to Jason five, six times a day and he he keeps me up to speed.
[10:05] I bring my experience.
[10:05] I bring my contacts.
[10:07] We do have a really good team that have contacts across the football pyramid in in this country uh in Africa, in South America and and other places.
[10:15] So we we
[10:19] are well set up now to be able to take the the right decisions.
[10:23] And you mentioned Jason, what's your relationship like with him?
[10:27] It's a relationship of trust.
[10:29] We we've known each other and worked together for many years.
[10:30] Um I trust his technical criteria.
[10:33] I trust the way he approaches his role.
[10:36] As I said, we've built a team around him which is very well experienced in all the different areas of expertise.
[10:43] So, um we we have a very good uh relationship.
[10:46] We know how we how we like to work, how we like to interact.
[10:49] We know what strengths he brings, what I can bring, and and we try to to do what's best for for the club really.
[10:57] And what about your relationship with Sir Jim Ratcliffe?
[10:58] What's that like?
[11:01] It's a very good relationship.
[11:04] It's a um I would say one of constant dialogue.
[11:06] He he likes to be involved.
[11:09] He likes to be aware of what's happening around the club.
[11:10] He he asks some very good questions.
[11:12] So, um he's somebody that's that's very committed to helping the management team uh be successful.
[11:21] likewise with the Glazers, I have a very good relationship, I would say, especially with Joel and Avy, who are the ones I interact uh with the most.
[11:28] and and if you think about their their experience, they have I think over three decades of experience in in the world of sports and have been involved with Manchester United for now over 20 years.
[11:38] So I I think my our relationship uh generally the management team and the owners is very good.
[11:43] Um there's a very good working dynamic between the owners as well and and that makes our jobs easier really.
[11:49] seems quite stable at the moment and one of the reasons is Michael Carrick's done very well as interim manager now permanent um head coach at Manchester United.
[11:58] What's your relationship like with Michael?
[12:01] It's it's very good.
[12:02] I I obviously didn't know him uh prior to him taking over the role when so when we went through the interview process I met him for the first time.
[12:08] I had heard many good things about him and everything has turned out to be to be true.
[12:13] He's uh he's somebody who loves the club, understands the values of the club, um is a is a great man manager, and we've
[12:23] seen that with the players and how they've reacted to him taking over, and and I think he's he's earned the right to continue leading the team over the next uh two years or or more.
[12:33] But he um I would describe him as somebody who is very calm but also very driven and and is and I'm sure he'll do everything he can him and his staff to to to make sure that we have a successful team this season, next season, and the year after that.
[12:48] Does he fit into what a Manchester United manager should be from what you've seen of him so far?
[12:54] I think when we talk about what a manager should be, I think this club since Sir Alex left has seen different profiles of managers, um different styles of play, different systems.
[13:05] So, um the way we we look at it is you need the right coach for the the squad that you have and what you're trying to achieve over the next years.
[13:18] And and I think Michael over the last months has demonstrated that he can do that.
[13:21] and and I think when when we look
[13:24] at the squad and what we're trying to do over the next two years, he does bring the the right attributes, the right ingredients, uh character, understanding of the club to help us navigate through the the next steps of of our journey.
[13:38] When it was 10 years ago, I remember talking to you about it.
[13:40] You were working for Manchester City and Josie Mourinho was appointed here.
[13:43] What were you were you watching thinking this is going to be a great rivalry?
[13:47] You had Pep Guardiola there.
[13:48] Must have been fascinating.
[13:51] Yeah, it was.
[13:53] So I was actually at Barcelona when Jose Mourinho was a coach at Real Madrid and Pep Guardo was a coach at at FC Barca and I think it lasted about four years and really it was the peak in football in many ways in the sense that you saw two big clubs, two top managers with very good squads going at it and and some of the the classical you know are are still talked about today.
[14:21] So, it's true that at the time when we were at City, we we looked at Manchester United, Jose Mourinho,
[14:25] Pep. Was that going to be replicated uh here in the Premier League and ultimately turned out differently?
[14:33] But um you know, this is this is a club that should be competing to win trophies every single season.
[14:39] Michael replaced Ruben Amarim. Was it was a point in Ruben a mistake?
[14:45] I I don't see it as a black or white in the sense that um yes because it didn't work out in the end the way we expected it to do then you know you can look at it in hindsight and say it it wasn't the right appointment but I actually think that Ruben deserves a lot of credit for for many things.
[15:02] He he he went through a very difficult season last year.
[15:07] He was put under difficult circumstances, but he he he did help raise the standards in the dressing room.
[15:13] So, I think he deserves a lot of credit for that, and I do think that he's going to be a successful coach, and I wish him all the best.
[15:20] But, we did feel that we needed to make a change, and in the end, it's worked out with with Michael.
[15:25] How do you deal with the constant media turbulence around this football club?
[15:28] I tried to block it out really.
[15:30] Um, it is quite volatile.
[15:33] You win two, three games in a row and suddenly you're gonna you're gonna win the Premier League by 10 points.
[15:36] You lose a couple of games and then you know it's the the opposite reaction.
[15:42] So we I always try to extricate myself from it, leave the emotions out.
[15:45] We have a plan, we have to execute and we have to continue moving forwards.
[15:50] It's it's a massive club.
[15:53] There are tons of opinions.
[15:54] Uh there's enormous amount of scrutiny on everything that we do.
[15:56] But, you know, we we just have to stay focused on what our targets are.
[16:05] A bit about you.
[16:08] I feel a lot fans don't know so much about you and that's probably how you like it, but I also feel you've got an interesting life story.
[16:10] Um, and I'm going to ask you a little bit about that if if you don't mind, but how did you feel when Manchester United approached you?
[16:15] You were working along at a football club
[16:27] over there somewhere and you got an approach.
[16:28] What was your first reaction?
[16:31] What did you go home and tell your wife?
[16:33] It was completely unexpected.
[16:35] It happened really quickly.
[16:39] Um, and what I was fortunate enough to be offered the role.
[16:40] What what I said to my wife is I just can't pass pass this up.
[16:43] It's the biggest club in the world.
[16:46] Um, the opportunity to be part of this great institution is is unique and I wouldn't want to wake up in 20 30 years regretting not having uh given it a go.
[16:54] And really I I didn't hesitate when
[17:03] Where did you meet him?
[17:04] Where did you meet Sir Jim?
[17:06] I actually met Sir Jim in my house,
[17:07] right?
[17:08] So he came to see you.
[17:09] He came to see me.
[17:11] We had a three or four hour conversation.
[17:13] U he explained his vision for the club.
[17:16] I explained my experience or what I thought I could bring to the role.
[17:18] And it was a a fantastic uh meeting and conversation.
[17:21] you know, he convinced me to to have then the follow-up
[17:28] conversation with Joel and Abby and and I met them in person.
[17:31] Again, I was very positively surprised by their their view on on the club and, you know, what they're trying to achieve and what, you know, their experience over the last two decades.
[17:42] So, I I was convinced I was convinced that this is the right ownership group and and that we were going to be able to put in place a a series of strategic measures to to get this club back to the top.
[17:54] Tell us about yourself.
[17:54] You you're born in Paris.
[17:56] What was your background?
[17:58] I was born in Paris to So, my my parents who are Moroccan uh were studying in Paris.
[18:03] I've then lived in multiple countries.
[18:07] So, obviously Morocco as well, the US.
[18:08] So my parents were in academia.
[18:11] Um they my father was a professor of uh economics.
[18:17] My mother started as a professor but then eventually moved on to work for UNICEF the United Nations.
[18:23] That that was her career really.
[18:23] And uh I was very fortunate to have lived in I think
[18:28] Six different countries.
[18:29] How many languages do you speak?
[18:30] Five.
[18:31] Right.
[18:33] English.
[18:33] Yeah.
[18:33] I'm giving you that.
[18:35] Spanish,
[18:36] French,
[18:37] Catalan,
[18:39] Arabic,
[18:39] and Moroccan Arabic.
[18:41] Which um country did you support then in?
[18:43] Well, the World Cup's coming up.
[18:43] Who you going to be supporting?
[18:45] I've always supported Morocco.
[18:47] Since when?
[18:47] What was your first World Cup?
[18:48] My first football memory is the 1986 World Cup.
[18:52] Morocco played England, I think.
[18:54] Yes.
[18:54] Yeah.
[18:54] Yeah.
[18:55] In the group phase.
[18:55] Yeah.
[18:55] And uh it was the first time that a African country uh went beyond the group phase and then they lost to West Germany um in the around 16 I think it was.
[19:08] And were you into football as a kid?
[19:09] I was massively into football.
[19:09] Uh I think from the moment I could walk, I was always into football.
[19:09] I never had the talent to to go really far in terms of playing it, but I've always been a huge follower of of football.
[19:09] And growing up in the 80s and 90s, I I was really attracted by obviously Johan
[19:29] Kreb's Barcelona, Ariosaki's AC Milan, and Sir Alex's Manchester United.
[19:35] Really?
[19:35] Of of course.
[19:35] Of course.
[19:37] It was so if I if I check that out with um family members, they would back up that you.
[19:41] Yeah.
[19:41] Yeah.
[19:43] My my my my father who who sadly passed away uh a couple of years ago, but he was also always into football.
[19:47] He he would talk to me about uh Manchester United.
[19:50] His his favorite player was George Best.
[19:54] Your dad Your dad's favorite player was George Best.
[19:56] My dad's favorite player was George Best.
[19:57] And I remember when Messi was coming up, he used to tell me that Messi reminded him a little bit of of George Best.
[20:04] Uh the way he played and obviously Messi started off more on the wing and his his trickery and dribbling.
[20:09] So So we would talk about that.
[20:12] He he he he came to Old Trafford as well once.
[20:13] Um, so he would all tell me about about the stadium.
[20:19] Like before you got involved in football.
[20:20] He came before I was born.
[20:23] Really?
[20:23] So, so there was that connection and then and then the other link to to the club was I was living in Barcelona when
[20:30] United won the trouble against Bayern
[20:32] Munich. I didn't go to the game
[20:34] unfortunately. I wasn't in the stadium
[20:36] but I was in I was watching it at a bar
[20:37] and then you can imagine celebrations
[20:40] from all United fans.
[20:41] >> Where were you watching it in Barcelona?
[20:43] Which bar? Uh it was by the So it was
[20:47] called
[20:48] >> Okay.
[20:49] >> Yeah,
[20:49] >> I know it. Yeah, I've played against our
[20:51] football team. I know it well. Um so you
[20:54] were there um living in Barcelona. Your
[20:57] dad had talked about George Best, but
[20:59] you never actually visited Manchester.
[21:01] You had no connection with Manchester.
[21:03] >> No, no, no. I hadn't really u visited
[21:06] Manchester until until I joined
[21:08] Manchester City. And so I've been here
[21:10] in the UK for 15 years. uh in Manchester
[21:14] for
[21:16] 10 years now.
[21:16] >> You like it like living in Manchester?
[21:18] We love it. Family like it despite the
[21:20] weather. Uh we're very happy here. Wife
[21:23] Barcelona. Yeah. She
[21:24] >> she's really well settled. Our kids are
[21:26] twins who are 11 years old.
[21:28] >> Um they were born in London, but they
[21:30] moved here when they were one
[21:32] >> and they're they love it here. They
[21:34] they're fully settled. Um, interestingly
[21:37] when I when I told them for the first
[21:39] time that I was leaving city to join
[21:40] United and it it happened so fast by the
[21:42] time I told them it was already decided.
[21:44] Uh, my daughter doesn't really follow
[21:47] football. So I think she'll support me
[21:49] and follow me wherever I go. Uh, but my
[21:52] boy was a City fan and the first thing
[21:54] he said to me, he said, "Dad, okay, you
[21:56] can join United, but I'm going to
[21:58] continue supporting City." I said,
[21:59] "Fine, it's your choice." Um, but he's
[22:01] evolved now and he's a full full-blown
[22:04] >> evolved. Yeah. So, who does heed? Which
[22:06] football team does he support?
[22:08] >> No, he supports United. It's incredible.
[22:10] Yeah. He comes to many games. His
[22:12] favorite player is Brian and Bumo. Uh,
[22:14] and I think the turning point
[22:16] interestingly was uh at a halftime I
[22:18] asked Jason Leech to give my wife and my
[22:22] kids a tour.
[22:23] >> Good luck, Jason. Sulford Red
[22:25] >> and Yeah. And he he gave them a tour.
[22:27] they came out of it and they realized
[22:28] the the the history and the heritage and
[22:31] what the club actually meant beyond just
[22:33] football and and I think that's when it
[22:35] it switched. And any other um history of
[22:39] Manchester? I think you told me years
[22:40] ago that didn't you have a a family
[22:43] member who' moved to Manchester?
[22:44] >> There's a very interesting story. So
[22:46] yes, so I found out we found out a few
[22:48] years ago that my greatgrandfather on my
[22:51] mother's side actually lived in
[22:54] Manchester for 18 years.
[22:55] >> From Morocco.
[22:55] >> From Morocco. So we did a bit of
[22:57] research
[22:58] >> where in Morocco.
[22:59] >> So he was from Fez uh where my family is
[23:02] from both sides. And so we did a bit of
[23:06] research and we found out and this is
[23:07] incredible. We found out that in the
[23:09] early 1900s there was a group of uh
[23:13] Muslim and Jewish Moroccan merchants
[23:17] that came to live in Manchester that
[23:20] worked in textile primarily. Um and and
[23:24] actually so there was a a a group and a
[23:27] community that came here, settled here,
[23:30] uh were very well integrated into into
[23:32] the community here and and yeah, he
[23:34] ended up uh spending 18 years of his
[23:36] life in in Manchester and we actually we
[23:39] we found his name in the 1911
[23:43] census of Manchester. So this was when
[23:46] United were first winning the league,
[23:48] first champions of England. So I might
[23:50] do a bit of digging and your great
[23:52] granddad. He might have been like the
[23:53] lead chance starter on the stret Yeah.
[23:55] Old Trafford was open former Stretford
[23:57] and need to do some research um into
[24:00] that one. You've been at the club now
[24:01] for for two years. You've worked at
[24:04] other football clubs. I know that fans
[24:06] of Barca or City will say that their
[24:08] club is special. Is is this club
[24:10] special? Is it different or is this just
[24:13] what what fans um say? And have you
[24:15] adapted to Manchester United?
[24:19] Yes. So on the first point, I think any
[24:22] fan around the world will tell you that
[24:24] their club is special
[24:26] >> and it's different and that there's
[24:28] always an emotional connection
[24:29] obviously, but what what I found is that
[24:32] this is a very unique club in many ways
[24:35] and I wouldn't say it's surprised me,
[24:37] but the more time I spend at the club,
[24:40] the more I learn about the club, the
[24:42] more I understand that it is it is quite
[24:45] unique in many ways in terms of the rich
[24:47] heritage, the tradition ition, the
[24:49] tragedy that has gone through with
[24:51] obviously the Munich tragedy in in 1958,
[24:54] the way that Sir Matt Butsby picked up
[24:56] the club and and eventually winning uh
[24:59] the first European Cup in 1968, the
[25:02] different ups and downs that the club
[25:03] has gone through, what Sir Alex did in
[25:05] his 27 years at the club. Um everything
[25:08] that it represents for the city of
[25:09] Manchester, for really for the the
[25:11] country. Uh so it is a an institution
[25:14] that I think is unlike any others. uh at
[25:18] least the ones that I've come across and
[25:21] and it is a a a responsibility really
[25:24] when you're working for the club to
[25:25] always think about the the heritage uh
[25:29] that you know you're you're responsible
[25:31] for. Um, I I read a a book about a about
[25:34] the club uh uh last year, I think it
[25:36] was, and there was a quote that stuck in
[25:39] my mind, which was when you're at
[25:40] Manchester United, you're either making
[25:43] history or living up to it. And and I
[25:47] thought that was quite quite true, which
[25:49] is the sense that you're always being
[25:51] compared to the past, but at the same
[25:53] time, you want to be establishing, you
[25:55] know, making history and and ensuring
[25:58] that you're putting the club in the best
[25:59] place to to create that history for the
[26:01] generations that will be coming after
[26:02] us.
[26:03] >> Can you tell fans about project uh 150
[26:06] and how optimistic you are of achieving
[26:09] that?
[26:10] So, Project 150 really is uh looking at
[26:14] our 150th anniversary in 2028, which is
[26:18] an incredible historic milestone for for
[26:22] any club in in the world. And we just
[26:25] wanted to set a point in time to focus
[26:28] our minds and energies and and resources
[26:31] on achieving a series of goals. and and
[26:34] one of the the goals that we've set out
[26:36] is to win the Premier League, the 21st
[26:39] league um before 2028. So, ideally, we
[26:43] do it next season and if not, then the
[26:45] following season. But the to answer your
[26:48] question, I think we're in we're in a
[26:49] good place. We we've seen some really
[26:51] good progress on the pitch this season.
[26:53] We're going to continue building on
[26:54] that. We're going to continue investing
[26:57] in different areas of the club. Uh there
[27:00] are other objectives off the pitch that
[27:01] we'd like to achieve as well. One of
[27:03] them is to be financially sustainable to
[27:05] to introduce uh commercial innovation in
[27:08] the club.
[27:09] >> What does what does that mean?
[27:10] Commercial innovation.
[27:11] >> Well, if you if you look at uh
[27:12] Manchester United, it it's always been
[27:16] at the forefront of um the commercial
[27:20] thinking, the way uh partnerships are
[27:23] done and delivered. And even when I was
[27:26] at Barcelona way back in 2004, uh we
[27:28] used to look at Match 30 and I didn't
[27:30] say those guys are coming up some really
[27:32] good ideas. Let's do the same and let's
[27:34] copy that. So I I want to make sure that
[27:37] we we continue with that mindset and
[27:39] that philosophy of uh of course growing
[27:41] our revenues which is important but
[27:43] introducing new concepts, new ideas um
[27:46] leaning on technology, AI to operate
[27:51] differently to service our partners
[27:52] better to deliver better experiences for
[27:55] our fans and and make sure that we are a
[27:58] modern and innovative club moving
[28:01] forward. to being ahead of the game
[28:02] commercially. I mean, that's why you
[28:04] moved to London because Manchester
[28:06] United had a London base and Manchester
[28:08] City wanted to replicate that because
[28:10] Manchester United were were the market
[28:12] leaders.
[28:13] >> Absolutely. The Manchester United were
[28:15] market leaders and coming up with the
[28:17] the idea of having an office in London,
[28:19] having presence in Asia and Hong Kong
[28:22] and and many many clubs were copying
[28:25] what you know Manchester United was
[28:27] doing. So I want us to to to continue
[28:30] doing that to being leaders in in the
[28:32] commercial sense.
[28:33] >> We speak at a moment of of relative uh
[28:35] calm and stability. Both you and Sir Jim
[28:38] have said that tough decisions need to
[28:40] be be made and I know people who've lost
[28:43] their jobs working for Manchester
[28:44] United. Local people love the club done
[28:47] absolutely nothing wrong and it's very
[28:49] difficult for them. Have we seen the end
[28:51] of these tough decisions?
[28:53] Yeah, decisions were very difficult and
[28:55] it's very unfortunate that so many
[28:58] people had to to lose their jobs and uh
[29:01] as you said many of these people didn't
[29:03] really do anything wrong. It was just a
[29:05] a process that we had to go through to
[29:09] really make our structure leaner so that
[29:12] we would be able to operate uh with a
[29:15] bit more room in in the transfer window
[29:19] to be able to uh aspire to to to build a
[29:23] new stadium. Uh so we continue to do
[29:25] various things but it is true that the
[29:27] cost was very high uh for many people
[29:30] and and it's taken a while for the club
[29:33] to uh build back that trust between
[29:37] staff management owners but I think
[29:40] we're in a much better place now. And I
[29:42] think as we've seen in the latest
[29:44] financial results uh those tough
[29:46] decisions have
[29:49] beared their fruit in the sense that
[29:51] it's allowed the club to to be where it
[29:53] needs to be. uh moving forwards. So we
[29:56] we will we will continue to evolve. We
[29:58] we have to continue staying disciplined
[30:01] and applying financial rigor to every
[30:03] decision so that we don't ever find
[30:05] ourselves in a position where we have to
[30:07] take these tough decisions again. Um my
[30:10] my take on it now is that we're in a
[30:11] we're in a really good shape. We have to
[30:13] learn from what we we did in the past
[30:16] and and continue applying that same uh
[30:19] criteria and discipline as I said to
[30:21] what we do moving forwards. You talk
[30:23] about trust. Can the staff trust you?
[30:24] You stood up in front of the staff and
[30:27] said there wouldn't be a second wave of
[30:28] redundancies and there were.
[30:31] >> Yeah, you're right and and I apologize
[30:33] for that. We we we went in into an
[30:37] initial process. We came out of it and
[30:40] unfortunately we saw that it just wasn't
[30:42] enough. We need to continue uh try to
[30:45] find savings um both in terms of of
[30:48] staff and other areas of uh the way we
[30:50] operate the club. So, um, the truth is
[30:54] the club is is still losing money. U,
[30:56] we're in a much better place than we
[30:58] were, but we need to stay, as I said,
[31:01] focused on what the challenges that we
[31:04] have ahead of us and continue to to
[31:05] apply that financial rigor. So, that
[31:08] that's the mindset that we have. But,
[31:10] but what I see now is a group of about
[31:12] 700 staff of very talented, very
[31:15] dedicated people that are fully
[31:18] committed to what we're trying to
[31:19] achieve as as a club. and and I think
[31:22] that puts us now in a really good place
[31:24] to be optimistic about what's ahead of
[31:26] us.
[31:26] >> I worry about ticket prices Omar for
[31:28] fans who go to most of of the games and
[31:31] and have done for a long time. Um is
[31:34] this something that the club are aware
[31:36] of the strength of feeling for the fans?
[31:39] >> We're we're aware of it and we're aware
[31:41] of the sentiment and and the emotions
[31:44] uh fans have around it.
[31:47] really as we talked about before the the
[31:50] club is still going through a journey to
[31:55] put us in a better financial footing. Um
[31:58] and we've had to take some tough
[31:59] decisions and this is part of the
[32:02] difficult decisions that we have to take
[32:03] sometimes. Uh we we've approached it
[32:05] from the perspective of trying to
[32:07] protect our core fan base as much as
[32:09] possible. We haven't wanted to raise the
[32:12] GA ticket prices too highly. general
[32:15] admission.
[32:16] >> General admission, we've kept it uh
[32:18] relatively on par with the increase in
[32:20] in inflation and and the cost. And to
[32:24] balance it out, we've had to take other
[32:27] difficult decisions such as relocating
[32:30] some of the fans from the prime seats.
[32:32] Uh we did, I think, 500 last season.
[32:35] This year, we're going to do another
[32:37] 600. And then we realized
[32:39] >> more after that,
[32:40] >> we realized that it has a a an impact on
[32:43] them. We're continuing to evolve our our
[32:46] thinking around the stadium. It's
[32:47] finding the right balance between
[32:49] optimizing the the revenues and helping
[32:51] us financially. And let's not forget
[32:54] that we use it to invest on the pitch.
[32:57] We also are using it to improve the fan
[33:00] experience inside the stadium. We've
[33:01] announced recently a partnership with uh
[33:04] Levy. It's going to help uh improve, I
[33:07] think, our our catering offering. And
[33:10] we're also going to be investing in
[33:11] different areas of the stadium to
[33:12] continue improving fan experience. So we
[33:14] we come at it from the perspective of
[33:16] what what's right for the club
[33:18] generally. Um and in some cases we do
[33:21] have to take these difficult decisions
[33:22] that have an impact on on the fans. Uh
[33:25] but we try to balance it out the best
[33:27] way possible.
[33:27] >> But it's emotive. If someone's sat in a
[33:29] seat for 30 years that they're bound to
[33:31] be annoyed.
[33:32] >> We we understand that perfectly. It's
[33:33] the the emotional connection that they
[33:35] have with the seat, their people that
[33:38] they're sat with and and we we
[33:40] understand that it's not ideal. We we
[33:42] have tried to put in place uh the right
[33:44] process and the right measures to to
[33:46] minimize that impact, but we do feel
[33:48] it's something that is that is necessary
[33:50] given where we are.
[33:51] >> How important you mentioned the the fan
[33:52] advisory board and there's a fans forum
[33:55] as well. How important are they to the
[33:56] way that the the club engages and and
[33:59] treat um fans? I know there's been a
[34:01] focus on on ticket prices, but there's
[34:03] other issues like reintroducing European
[34:05] away collections. Does that show that
[34:07] these bodies work? Are you serious about
[34:09] your consultation with them?
[34:11] >> I think they play a very important role.
[34:13] Um they they represent their their fan
[34:16] groups really well. We we have some
[34:18] really robust discussions. Um they push
[34:22] management quite hard.
[34:24] >> Good.
[34:24] >> And and we Yeah, they in that sense they
[34:26] do the job really well. and and there
[34:28] there were, you know, series of ideas
[34:30] and and initiatives that we had in mind
[34:32] that we decided against given the
[34:35] feedback that they've given us. So, we
[34:37] know that they're never going to fully
[34:38] support everything that we're trying to
[34:40] do. But that dialogue is so important
[34:42] because it helps us as as management be
[34:45] aware of the sentiment uh that comes
[34:47] with some of the potential decisions
[34:48] that we're taking.
[34:49] >> I've seen firsthand the passion of fans.
[34:51] I've traveled around the world watching
[34:52] this football club and and it's
[34:54] fantastic. The last few preseason tours
[34:56] have been in the United States. were in
[34:58] Europe this year. How important is it to
[35:00] recognize and reward the fans? You know,
[35:03] I know people who've got season ticket
[35:04] holders who live in Scandinavia, who
[35:06] live um in Ireland and they come over on
[35:09] a very regular basis. I think it's very
[35:12] important. This club, I think, was one
[35:14] of the first clubs to to start doing
[35:15] international tours uh because it
[35:18] brought the club closer to our
[35:20] international uh fan base and it's
[35:22] important that we do that whenever we
[35:24] can. This year we took the decision to
[35:26] stay in Europe given that it's a World
[35:28] Cup year and we didn't want to put too
[35:31] much strain on on the players. Um but
[35:34] but also because we have
[35:35] >> Does that cost you money doing that to
[35:36] what you could would have earned a year
[35:38] ago?
[35:38] >> Yes. Yes, it does. You know there there
[35:39] is an opportunity cost to staying in
[35:41] Europe versus going to say Asia or or
[35:44] the US. But we felt it was the right
[35:46] thing to do from a football perspective.
[35:48] But also to your point, we we have
[35:50] strong uh followings in different areas
[35:53] of Europe and it's it's an opportunity
[35:55] to to get closer to those fans. There's
[35:57] some fans that are just as passionate
[35:59] about the club as the fans that come to
[36:02] Old Trafford every every week, but they
[36:04] will never get the chance to to see the
[36:06] team play live unless the team goes to
[36:08] them. So I think it's something that
[36:09] we'll try to do every year. closer to
[36:11] home. There was some horrendous
[36:13] scheduling of fixtures last year.
[36:15] Bournemouth on a Friday night, games on
[36:18] a on a Monday night. Um, we spoke about
[36:22] it and you said that you'd raised an
[36:24] objection to the Premier League. Is that
[36:26] just words? What does that look like?
[36:28] How can we stop this happening again? I
[36:31] know part of it will be negated by the
[36:33] fact that United are in Europe, so it's
[36:34] likely to be a lot less, but that's a
[36:36] real issue to fans. and paying for
[36:38] coaches to Bournemouth was genuinely
[36:40] appreciated, but it still remains a big
[36:43] issue.
[36:44] >> It was a it was a big issue and it was
[36:46] very concerning for us. Um I think we've
[36:48] played the most amount of midweek games
[36:51] in in the Premier League uh ever.
[36:53] >> So we I I did raise it with the Premier
[36:56] League. So the CEO Richard Masters I
[36:59] think they were empathetic to the
[37:01] situation. It's true that
[37:02] >> then nothing changes.
[37:04] >> It's it's it's difficult in a way. We're
[37:06] a little bit u victims of our own
[37:08] success in the sense that we get picked
[37:10] very often by the broadcasters because
[37:13] >> we're massive.
[37:14] >> We're massive and the audiences that we
[37:17] deliver are very attractive to to the
[37:19] broadcasters and we also as as as a club
[37:22] benefit from the the money that is paid
[37:25] by the broadcasters. So, uh, really the
[37:28] solution in is to be in Europe every
[37:30] year because yesterday, last season was
[37:32] a bit of a perfect storm with us not
[37:35] being in Europe, uh, more teams in the
[37:37] Premier League, I think, than ever
[37:39] playing in Europe and meaning that many
[37:41] of those teams couldn't play on a Friday
[37:44] or on on on a on a Monday. So, you're
[37:48] right. It was we were very concerned
[37:49] about the the number of fixtures that
[37:52] we've had to play on on a Monday on a
[37:54] Friday and the impact that it has on our
[37:56] away fans which by the way for me are
[37:58] are the best in this country. So um
[38:01] >> why why' you say they're the best?
[38:03] They're they're the the atmosphere that
[38:04] they bring to every single single
[38:06] stadium. The way they support the
[38:07] players, the way they they're they're
[38:11] vocal about, you know, what they want to
[38:13] see on the pitch and perhaps supporting
[38:16] one player, you know, like a bit like
[38:18] Casemir when he was leaving or Bruno
[38:19] when he was trying to achieve his his
[38:21] assist record or, you know, a young
[38:23] player that was maybe going through a
[38:24] tough time. I just love the way they
[38:26] they they support the club.
[38:27] >> We need more tickets. These games are
[38:29] over subscribed. There's like 15,000
[38:31] people applying for every
[38:32] >> awaken. We have the biggest fan base.
[38:33] So, you know, we're limited in terms of
[38:36] the
[38:36] >> We want 10,000 for Liverpool away. Say
[38:38] that at the next meeting.
[38:40] >> Exactly. But going back to the point, so
[38:42] um we had robust conversations with both
[38:45] the the Premier League and uh the
[38:47] broadcasters. Um but but we are a little
[38:50] bit a victim of our own success because
[38:51] we we deliver massive audiences of our
[38:54] games and therefore we get picked very
[38:55] often and and last year was a bit of a
[38:58] perfect storm of us not being in in
[39:00] Europe and many Premier League teams
[39:02] being in Europe and all the scheduling
[39:04] issues that that uh created. So really
[39:07] the solution is is is to be playing in
[39:09] Europe uh every single season and and
[39:12] and playing our our games in on the
[39:14] weekends, the Premier League games on
[39:16] the weekends. There's excitement among
[39:18] some fans about a possible new stadium.
[39:20] Have you got any updates for us and how
[39:22] would it be funded?
[39:24] >> So, on the project itself, we're we're
[39:27] making progress. The we're we're focused
[39:29] now on the land acquisition
[39:32] and hopefully we'll have some news to
[39:34] share in in the next weeks or months.
[39:36] But once we've secured the land and we
[39:39] know the exact location of where the new
[39:41] stadium could could be, then we will
[39:44] proceed to finalize the design at the
[39:46] stadium, which will then lead us to have
[39:49] a very good understanding of what the
[39:50] potential cost is. And once we've done
[39:53] all that, then we we need to consider
[39:55] all the the different funding options
[39:57] and and we're obviously keeping an open
[39:58] mind.
[39:59] >> There are some fans who do not want a
[40:01] new stadium. They're very happy with Old
[40:02] Trafford. Will these fans be be properly
[40:05] consulted? Will their concerns be taken
[40:07] seriously for the best possible outcome?
[40:09] >> Yeah. So, we we went through a process.
[40:11] We collaborated very closely with the
[40:14] old Trafford regeneration task force and
[40:17] and they did an analysis and and they
[40:19] came back essentially with the view that
[40:21] the best solution for for the club was a
[40:24] new stadium. We also did a a pretty
[40:27] far-reaching survey and again the the
[40:30] feedback that we received was that there
[40:32] is a overwhelming support for for the
[40:34] new stadium. I understand there's some
[40:36] fans that would like to stay in Old
[40:37] Trafford. It's it's iconic. The Theater
[40:39] of Dreams, it's it's a very very special
[40:42] place to to experience
[40:46] incredible games and you know, there's
[40:48] so much history and tradition around
[40:50] around the current stadium. But we do
[40:52] think that our aspirations should be to
[40:54] build a bigger stadium, a stadium that
[40:58] can accommodate for more fans and that
[41:01] can be the the Old Trafford for the next
[41:03] hundred years for for the club.
[41:05] >> What's the demand like for tickets is
[41:06] sold out every single week.
[41:08] >> Yes.
[41:09] >> Every single game in every single
[41:11] competition, no matter the day, no
[41:12] matter the time, no matter the weather,
[41:14] is is sold out. And that's pretty
[41:15] incredible to have that support really.
[41:17] >> Yeah. Um the debt is still a concern for
[41:20] fans. What are the owner's long-term
[41:22] plans regarding the debt?
[41:25] >> I think our role as management is to be
[41:27] able to to operate u competitively with
[41:32] a financial structure that is
[41:33] sustainable. Um we also want to aspire
[41:36] to to build a a new stadium, but we have
[41:39] to do it in a way that um allows us to
[41:42] to continue being competitive. So you
[41:45] know our view now is we need to continue
[41:48] implementing the series of measures that
[41:49] we started doing last season. We need to
[41:52] continue staying uh very disciplined and
[41:55] continue to take the right decisions on
[41:57] the pitch and and put us in a position
[42:00] where we can do everything where we can
[42:02] sustain the debt aspire to build a new
[42:05] stadium and importantly uh try to win as
[42:08] many trophies as we can. Will Manchester
[42:11] United make history with you as the
[42:13] leading executive? Will it continue to
[42:16] be as influential? Will United be great
[42:19] again?
[42:20] >> That's our aspiration. I think we have
[42:21] the right uh ownership group. We have
[42:24] the right management team. we have the
[42:26] right uh staff around the club and and
[42:29] that's our number one goal is to win
[42:32] trophies to make our fans proud to
[42:36] create the new history really for for
[42:38] the club and and to continue building
[42:40] for the future.
[42:41] >> Is it not more difficult now because of
[42:43] the strength of rivals and the
[42:46] competitiveness of the Premier League
[42:48] which as a virtue makes it so popular
[42:51] globally?
[42:52] You're right that the competitive
[42:54] landscape is is different than what it
[42:55] was maybe 10 15 years ago. Um but at the
[42:58] same time I think what it's done is it's
[43:00] grown the sport. It's grown football. Um
[43:03] it's it's you know we we're we are a
[43:05] club that I think transcend the sport.
[43:09] uh there's probably a handful of sports
[43:11] clubs or sports teams across the world
[43:14] in any sport that transcend their own
[43:18] sport and are such a massive brand that
[43:21] uh benefit really from the growth of of
[43:23] sport in general. And I think as you see
[43:26] uh new technologies coming in that
[43:28] emotional link that you get by
[43:30] supporting a team by attending a a live
[43:33] match is quite unique. So the more the
[43:36] sport grows I think the better for us.
[43:38] Do you enjoy your job?
[43:39] >> Very much.
[43:40] >> Every day.
[43:41] >> Every day. Every day is for
[43:43] >> you have times when your team have got
[43:44] beaten that you don't enjoy it.
[43:46] >> No, of course there there are days that
[43:47] are harder than others. But honestly, I
[43:49] I wake up every day thinking it's a
[43:52] privilege to be at the club and it's
[43:54] also a massive responsibility. So, uh, I
[43:57] always think about what what are the
[43:59] things that we should be doing as a club
[44:01] to continue improving and improving and,
[44:04] um, it's it's very very special to to be
[44:06] part of this club and, you know, our
[44:09] role is to do everything we can to to be
[44:11] the right custodians for this club for
[44:13] for many years.
[44:14] >> You got good people around you.
[44:16] >> We have a very good team. We have a very
[44:18] good team both in terms of the
[44:19] management team uh, but just a wider
[44:22] staff. Um, I like I said before, I see a
[44:25] group of really dedicated, committed,
[44:28] talented people that that want the best
[44:30] for for the club.
[44:31] >> Commercially, sponsorship must be easier
[44:33] now. United are going back into the the
[44:35] Champions League to bring revenues in.
[44:37] >> Yeah, we we we have a very strong brand
[44:39] and it's a brand that has shown that it
[44:41] can be very attractive for companies to
[44:45] to be associated with uh regardless of
[44:48] their sporting cycles. But it is true
[44:50] that when you're doing better on the
[44:51] pitch, there's a better pres positive
[44:54] momentum. Uh and and all of a sudden you
[44:56] see more and more brands wanting to to
[44:58] to be part of the family of of partners
[45:01] that we have. You know, we're we're very
[45:03] pleased with Adidas. We're very pleased
[45:04] with Snapdragon and other partners that
[45:06] we have uh working with us and you know,
[45:08] helping us in in different areas of of
[45:10] our growth. So our job is to continue
[45:13] growing in that area with bringing in
[45:15] new partners and and and new categories
[45:17] and servicing our our partners now that
[45:20] we currently have very well.
[45:21] >> You talk about global Manchester United
[45:23] are from Manchester. How important is
[45:25] the the local community um to this
[45:28] football club?
[45:30] >> It's core to everything that we do. It's
[45:31] very important. We we can never lose
[45:33] touch with the fans that support us
[45:36] through all the different moments that
[45:38] that we go through. uh as I said before,
[45:41] you know, our our away fans that support
[45:44] the players sometimes after a very
[45:45] difficult performance or difficult
[45:47] result. So, we can never lose touch with
[45:50] that connection and and that's something
[45:51] that we need to stay very focused on.
[45:53] >> Do you have any contact with the
[45:54] players?
[45:55] >> With the players? Yeah.
[45:56] >> Yeah, I do. So, I I I base myself
[45:59] primarily in Carrington. Um so, I spend
[46:02] >> Why? Well, it was important for me in
[46:04] this in this part of our journey to
[46:08] focus very much on football. Uh to help
[46:11] Jason and his team, uh the coach, the
[46:15] players, uh navigate through the the
[46:18] challenges that we've had over the last
[46:19] 18 months or so. and and it was
[46:21] important that we brought football back
[46:24] to the top of our priorities and and we
[46:27] continue just focusing on everything
[46:29] that we need to be doing because we know
[46:30] that if our men's team, our women's
[46:32] team, ourmies are successful, it's going
[46:35] to help every area of the business. So
[46:36] that was a primary area of focus for for
[46:38] us as a management team. Um, but I'm
[46:41] also very connected to to obviously our
[46:43] our people who are based in in Old
[46:45] Trafford and we also have an office in
[46:47] London, uh, who do most of the
[46:49] commercial work for us and they do some
[46:51] fantastic things that we just need to
[46:52] continue supporting them.
[46:54] >> Recruitment, are you satisfied with how
[46:56] the recruitment is looking now?
[46:58] >> Yeah. So, as I said, I think the four
[47:01] senior signings that we made last year
[47:03] have have worked out really well. um
[47:06] they they've all played, you know, an an
[47:08] important part in the success of
[47:10] >> Are you allowed a favorite or you're not
[47:11] allowed to say stuff like that? Do you
[47:13] have a favorite player or a favorite
[47:14] signing or have you just got to keep
[47:16] that private?
[47:17] >> No, it's not about keeping it private. I
[47:19] think they're they're all very
[47:20] different. They're all very different.
[47:21] Uh Senna is way more mature beyond his
[47:26] years. Uh Kuna is a very charismatic
[47:30] player and you see that on the pitch. uh
[47:33] Brian who's a bit more quiet, but then
[47:36] as soon as he steps on the pitch, he
[47:37] becomes a leader and and you know, Cesco
[47:40] has has shown a hunger to improve every
[47:43] day since he's been here and you know,
[47:45] we've seen the results over the last few
[47:47] months. So, I think we're very happy
[47:48] with the the the four senior signings
[47:50] that we made and and we want to continue
[47:52] along that track and without forgetting
[47:54] that we we have a a squad that is hungry
[47:58] for for winning and for success. I think
[48:00] in Bruno we have a fantastic captain.
[48:02] Absolutely fantastic. He's
[48:04] >> You think he'll stay at the club?
[48:05] >> We we we'd like him to stay. We'd like
[48:07] him to stay. Of course we do. Uh he's
[48:09] had a great season on on the pitch. Um
[48:12] and more importantly, I think he's he's
[48:13] shown to everybody that he is a great
[48:17] leader. Um people don't see what he does
[48:21] outside the pitch
[48:22] >> and he deserves a lot of credit.
[48:23] >> What does he do outside the pitch?
[48:25] >> He's so he represents the club really
[48:27] well. uh whenever he has to interact
[48:30] with our fans or interact with our
[48:31] partners or other stakeholders, he does
[48:34] it very well. Uh he understands the
[48:36] values of the club and and I think this
[48:39] season we've seen him really uh help the
[48:42] new signings, help some of the younger
[48:44] players, Aiden, Lenny, Ahmad, Patrick,
[48:48] um deal with the pressure and the
[48:50] scrutiny. Um and you know that takes a
[48:52] lot of uh bravery and courage for for
[48:55] him to have done that on top of
[48:58] performing really well, achieving what
[48:59] he's achieved on an individual basis,
[49:02] you know, being named the the the player
[49:04] of the year. Um
[49:06] >> did you go to the awards ceremony for
[49:07] that?
[49:08] >> We did. Yeah, I did. Yeah, I think it
[49:10] was important to to show our support for
[49:11] for Bruno. He deserves it and you know
[49:14] he's he's he's earned the right to to
[49:17] enjoy those moments. Are you optimistic
[49:19] about the future of Manchester United
[49:22] and are you the man to lead Manchester
[49:24] United on an executive level?
[49:26] >> I'm I'm I'm naturally optimistic by by
[49:28] nature. Although my wife says I should
[49:30] smile more, but I I am I am quite
[49:33] optimistic and and I think we are in a
[49:35] very good position. We are in a good
[49:37] place after a a difficult period. We're
[49:40] heading in the right directions. We have
[49:42] the right people in place. uh just we
[49:44] have the right ingredients and the right
[49:46] ecosystem around the club to to put us
[49:49] in a position where I think we'll be
[49:50] very successful.
[49:51] >> I'd like to thank you for your time.
[49:52] >> Thank you very much.