Red Revival: Manchester United's Road Back to Glory

As Manchester United prepares for a new season, Boardroom breaks down why fans can be confident the club will return to form among football’s elite.

The 2024-25 Manchester United season left much to be desired, arguably their toughest since the 1974 campaign, when they were relegated. Beset by injuries, inconsistent performances, and personnel changes, the club found itself teetering on the edge of irrelevance in both domestic and European competitions.

For a team with such a storied legacy, the alarm bells were deafening; change was not just needed — it was inevitable. Thankfully, as the season progressed, a turnaround began to take shape. Tactical shifts, emerging talent, and a renewed sense of purpose brought stability back to Old Trafford, and now, as the new era takes root, the signs of resurgence are undeniable.

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Despite the turbulence, the club managed to steady the ship, and although it closed the season without adding hardware, there were flashes of brilliance that hopefully will reappear on a more consistent basis this year. Players are back from injury spells, youth talent stepped up when it mattered most, and tactical adjustments began to pay dividends. Not to mention, there are three superstar signings to bolster the attack, and if the Red Devils get their way, perhaps help with the defense.

As they prepare to open the Premier League against Arsenal on Sunday at the Theater of Dreams, United do so with renewed confidence, a fitter squad, a more unified dressing room, and a fanbase cautiously optimistic that the worst may finally be behind them.

With preparations for Matchweek 1 underway, here are a few reasons why fans can confidently say it’s United’s year.

Ruben Amorim’s Signings

Man United made Ruben Amorim its new manager in November 2024, its 10th head coach, including both permanent and caretaker appointments since Sir Alex Ferguson‘s retirement. The Portuguese boss quickly tightened up the roster, offloading some on loan or via transfer in January before making more moves in the much longer summer period. The first enhancement? Brazilian international Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers in a five-year deal worth £62.5 million ($83.5 million) with the option of a sixth year.

The forward joins a stealth attack that includes the likes of Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Højlund, and the club’s second big get this summer: Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford. The 25-year-old was signed for a reported fee of £70 million ($94.7 million) for five years of service. The Cameroon international told Boardroom during the Summer Series Tour in Chicago that it was a “dream” to sign for the club, adding that in just the short amount of time he’s been a Red, Mbeumo’s understanding of the United standard is rooted in “winning trophies and intimidating our opponents.” When asked what his message to the fans would be ahead of the forthcoming season, Mbeumo assured the team is ready to undo the wrongs of last year and look ahead to better days.

The third addition Amorim can take credit for is striker Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig on another five-year pact worth in the ballpark of £73.7 million ($98.8m). The Slovenian will be trusted to finish crucial crosses, fend off quick-footed defenders, and do anything else necessary to bring United back to winning ways.

Without add-ons, United’s summer spending sits at a steep £196.5 million ($266.4 million), with that figure rising to £214.5 million ($290.5 million) if the extra incentives are triggered.

A productive (and expensive) transfer window has laid the foundations for what looks to be a more balanced squad for Amorim’s first full year in charge. Key targets have addressed long-standing weaknesses and hopefully, soon will come smart defensive reinforcements and perhaps creative midfield options. There are still weeks left in the window, and with that comes continuous links to high-profile additions, so naturally optimism continues to grow among fans that a few more strategic additions could elevate this new-look side into genuine contenders — ready to restore Manchester United’s place among football’s elite.

Confidence Within Partners

Everyone wants to be part of the winning team, including the cohort of partners who continuously work alongside United. These strategic collaborators help connect the club to its fans in the most creative ways. Take, for example, Adidas, the club’s long-term kit outfitter. The flashy red home uniforms forever evoke authority on the pitch, but it’s the creativity that comes with the away and third kits that seems to dazzle each year. The away shirt arguably symbolizes a literal clean slate, with a predominantly white base serving as background for the most subtle of lilac graphic overlays. Earlier this week, the final third kit was revealed, and it’s a tribute to the famous double-winning side of 1993–94. The Adidas Trefoil logo returns for a second successive season and features a black base amplified by yellow accents and a touch of blue, drawing inspiration from the away kit worn between 1993 and 1995.

During United’s Summer Series Tour in Chicago, the club and Adidas hosted over 200 of the club’s most passionate fans in Chicago for an unforgettable afternoon at its flagship store on Michigan Avenue. The scenes were incomparable, with crowds beginning to line up hours ahead of the festivities, hoping to meet one of their idols: Camemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Leny Yoro, Amad Diallo, Manuel Ugarte, and Mbeumo. The energy rivaled what you hear when the kickoff whistle blows. Within the moderately sized store were athletes who had an influence on thousands falling in love with the game. All six players stayed for hours signing merch, posing for photos, and instilling even more confidence in fans that better days are coming.

“We owe a lot to the fanbase for sticking by us through this past year,” said Yoro while in the Windy City. “We promise better days are ahead, and we’ll continue to fight to ensure that.”

That’s the sort of expectation you see from a brand committed to elevating the club in spite of tough spells. United and Adidas have been locked in since the 2015-16 season, following a 23-year gap after their previous partnership ended in 1992. In July 2023, Three Stripes extended its partnership with a 10-year deal that runs until June 2035. Worth a reported £900 million, at the time it was considered the biggest kit deal in Premier League history.

Two global entities beloved by billions across the globe, together continuing to set new standards in sportswear innovation, brand collaboration, and fan experience. As the club moves forward into this new era, Adidas remains a vital partner, committed to honoring its legacy while helping to shape its future.

English Tournaments Are the Real Battlegrounds

Let’s be real, the joys of playing European football are one of the most coveted positions for a club to be in. Mid-weeks are strictly reserved for the UEFA Champions League, with Thursday’s UEFA Europa League also emerging as a competitive force. A series of dramatic wins (no one will forget that unforgettable comeback against Lyon to reach the semi-finals last year) saw United in the finals against Big Six rival Tottenham Hotspur. Unfortunately, they weren’t able to bring home the hardware, losing 1-0 and consequently squandering all possibility of playing football on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.

While it still feels like an unfathomable revelation, perhaps there is some benefit to focusing strictly on domestic play, the FA Cup, and the League Cup. Added focus on weekend (and sometimes mid-week) Premier League play to start, but also improved chances at a domestic trophy and maintaining the objective at hand: bringing the top-flight trophy back to Old Trafford. This mitigates the chances of injury and, compared to opposition playing across Europe, gives United an upper hand when it comes to having fresher legs on the pitch. Not to mention, it could lead to a more focused approach to training and player development, potentially strengthening the squad for future trophy-winning years.

“Without Champions League, we also don’t need a big squad, we can control in a better way,” said Amorim in May shortly following the Europa League final. “Then we have a plan that is to bring some new players, of course. Our big plan is to improve the team we have, improve [the] academy, that is our future, as it was in the past.

“It’s not going to change so much. We have financial fair play rules; we are not allowed to do so much this summer, even with Champions League. Important thing is to stick together. We are going to struggle, it’s not going to be everything right away. I have a feeling the team is improving, that is the most important thing.”