Out-of-sorts Manchester United have been set ambitious targets that are being likened to NASA putting a man on the moon.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Red Devils have become stuck in a rutFresh investment failed to reverse trendTitle targets a long way from being hitFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱GOALWHAT HAPPENED?

The Red Devils have stagnated since seeing legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson head into retirement back in 2013. He walked away off the back of a 13th Premier League title triumph, which took the club to 20 top-flight crowns in total.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

They have not come particularly close to landing another since then, but the arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the INEOS co-ownership group in February 2024 was supposed to help United get back on track. They have remained stuck in reverse for the most part, while generating unwelcome headlines with a series of controversial cost-cutting measures.

AFPDID YOU KNOW?

Despite positivity at Old Trafford being in short supply, reports on how Ratcliffe's close ally Sir Dave Brailsford – the former head of British cycling that helped to deliver Olympic gold medals and historic Tour de France triumphs when filling previous roles – laid out ambitious plans for the future during one all-staff address.

WHAT SIR DAVE BRAILSFORD SAID

He is said to have drawn up visions for ‘Mission 21’ – which relates to the men’s team winning another league title – and ‘Mission 1’ – which will see the women’s side claim a first WSL crown. Club staff have compared Brailsford's goals to NASA’s Apollo mission aimed at putting a man on the moon by the time the 1960s ended.