Manchester United's new chief executive says the club must always challenge for the Premier League but does not want to give fans false hope.
Manchester United's new chief executive, Omar Berrada, has revealed an ambitious three-year plan aimed at returning the club to the summit of English football by their 150th anniversary in 2028.
Dubbed "Project 150," this initiative sets a clear target for the Red Devils to challenge for both the Premier League and Champions League titles.
09:49 - 25.09.2024
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Berrada, who joined United in June after a successful stint with rivals Manchester City, shared his vision with club staff in a recent meeting, as reported by The Athletic.
The CEO emphasised the need for realistic expectations while maintaining the club's traditionally high standards.
"It's not a 10-year plan. The fans would run out of patience if it was a 10-year plan. But it's certainly a three-year plan to get there," Berrada stated per the Athletic.
He cautioned against expecting immediate results, noting, "To think that we're going to be playing football as good as Manchester City played against Real Madrid last season by next year is not sensible."
The new chief executive stressed the importance of showing clear progress to avoid disappointing fans with false expectations.
He highlighted the significance of the club's upcoming 150th anniversary in 2028, suggesting it as a target for returning United to world-class status.
"I think it's the club's 150th anniversary in 2028... if our trajectory is leading to a very good place in that sort of timeframe then we'd be very happy with that," Berrada explained. "Because it's not easy to turn Manchester United into the world's best football team."
Despite the long-term vision, Berrada reaffirmed the club's perennial ambition: "The ultimate target for Manchester United — and it's always going to be thus, really — is that we should be challenging for the Premier League and challenging for the Champions League."
Currently, Manchester United face challenges on the pitch. The team sits 11th in the Premier League table with just seven points from five games.
Their Europa League campaign also began with a lacklustre draw against FC Twente. However, manager Erik ten Hag continues to enjoy full support from the board as he works to implement the club's long-term strategy.
As "Project 150" unfolds, all eyes will be on Ten Hag to see if he can help the club reclaim their position at the pinnacle of English and European football by their historic anniversary.