Ed Woodward sends Manchester United fans message ahead of Old Trafford return

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Ed Woodward has issued a message to Manchester United fans ahead of their first game at Old Trafford since project restart.

The executive vice chairman insists the club will come through the challenge of coronavirus, and has urged Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side to rekindle the spirit of their derby win against Manchester City in March as they bid to secure Champions League football and win silverware.

He said: “On the pitch, there is no escaping the reality that the coming months are going to be difficult for everyone in football and we are no exception.

“However, our club’s foundations are solid and, provided we stick together and manage our resources carefully, we will come through this period with our strength intact – thanks in large part to the loyalty of our fantastic supporters.

“As a banner in the Stretford End tonight declares, quoting Sir Matt Busby, ‘football is nothing without fans,’ and we can’t wait for you to return to Old Trafford as soon as it is safe to do so.

“Until then, the players will strive to retain the spirit of that pulsating win against Manchester City when we were last together and the momentum they had created before the enforced break.”

Woodward’s address came via the club’s official programme for Wednesday’s game against Sheffield United.

He speaks of his pride of the club’s reaction to Covid-19, thanks frontline workers - and also delivers strong message in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

“While everyone at Manchester United is excited to be getting back to playing football, we regret that our fans cannot be in the stadium, and recognise these are difficult times for many people around the world,” he said.

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“We mourn all those who lost their lives to coronavirus and honour the legions of frontline heroes – from nurses, to supermarket workers, to neighbourhood volunteers – who have helped our communities through this most challenging of periods.

“We have done what we can, through the club and the fantastic Manchester United Foundation, to support those efforts.

"I’m especially proud of the many club staff who volunteered to take part in initiatives such as foodbank deliveries, welfare calls to elderly fans, and the provision of over 60,000 meals for NHS staff cooked in our Old Trafford kitchens.

"I’m also proud of our players and their own individual work that has made a difference during the pandemic.

“As a club, we say ‘thank you’ tonight through the ‘United for the Heroes’ banner displayed in the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand, as well as the NHS logo on the players’ shirts.

“You will also see powerful anti-racism messages, on the players’ shirts and in the stands, and we are proud to be uniting with our players and the rest of the Premier League behind this crucial cause.

“Diversity, inclusion and the fight against racism are at the core of our values as a club whose support spans racial and cultural boundaries. This has been a long-standing commitment from the club, as part of our All Red All Equal campaign and our support for groups such as Kick It Out.”

Woodward added: “The breadth and diversity of our fan base is demonstrated by over 40,000 supporters from 193 countries who submitted their pictures for the spectacular fan mosaic, which will be on show in the stands for the first time tonight.

“We hope the mosaic will provide inspiration to the team as a reminder of the hundreds of millions cheering them on from home.”

Read Manchester United’s programme here: www.manutd.com/programme

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