Manchester United have endured a rotten start to the new season both on and off the pitch under Erik ten Hag, with chief executive Richard Arnold already facing some testing questions
Manchester United’s chief executive Richard Arnold faced a number of tough questions from disgruntled Red Devils staff this week, with the club’s approaches to both Antony and Mason Greenwood high on the agenda.
United have endured a woeful start to the campaign both on and off the pitch this term. They have lost three out of their opening five Premier League games – leaving them 13th in the table.
The club have also been enduring a tough time of things away from their results. The handling of Greenwood’s future saw the club come under severe criticism. The striker was eventually sent out on loan to Spanish side Getafe, with the decision being made that he would not be able to continue his career at Old Trafford.
Elsewhere, Antony is currently not in contention and has been told not to return to Manchester United while he faces allegations of physical assault, which he has denied.
According to The Telegraph, unnamed members of the Red Devils’ staff have not been left frustrated by the club’s response to both stars. CEO Arnold asked employees to air their grievances with the club in a ‘no-holds barred’ meeting on Monday.
Staff were asked to send in anonymous questions on a Zoom call, with some wanting answers on the club’s stance on Greenwood. The pair were not the only talking point on the call.
Mason Greenwood was sent out on loan to Getafe in the summer ( Image: Pressinphoto/REX/Shutterstock)
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Arnold was also forced to indicate his confidence in under-fire boss Erik ten Hag. The Dutchman has struggled to get the side back on track on the pitch.
He has also taken a hardline stance when it comes to Jadon Sancho’s position within the squad. The £73m winger was left out of the side to face Arsenal, with Ten Hag claiming that he had not met the standards expected of him training.
Sancho took to social media to dispute that claim and has since refused to apologise. Ten Hag has forced him to train away from the first-team and has stuck by his stance when probed by reporters.
He said: “I am always honest. You have to keep things inside [the club], but you can’t. When I am asked the question, I will be honest.”
“Strict lines is the point, is what the club asked me for because there was no good culture before last season – so to set some good standards, that is what I did,” the Dutchman added. “That is my job, to control the standards.”
United are next back in action on Wednesday evening as they open their group campaign against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.
