Man Utd returned to training with small groups this week after being suspended for more than two months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Financial results in the third quarter just announced that the club’s debt increased by 42.2% to 429.1 million pounds, Woodard said Covid-19 made a big impact on the Old Trafford team, spending The immediate cost associated with Man Utd’s Covid-19 is around £ 23 million.
"This is definitely one of the most unusual and experimental periods in 142 years of Man Utd’s history," Woodward told investors on Thursday. "This club is built on resilience in the face of adversity and those qualities are being proven again."
"We remain firmly optimistic about the long-term prospects for our club and for our exciting young team."
Woodward has suggested the Premier League may return in June with European leagues, including the Europa League, to end in August.
That timetable will cause the 2020-21 season to start later than usual, but Woodward still thinks it is possible to end the next season in May as originally expected. The club revealed it had no plans to tour before the new season, and returned £ 20 million to broadcasters because of "the delay and change of broadcast schedule for the 2019-20 season." .
“Covid-19 has caused significant disruption to our operations, including the postponement of all matches since mid-March and the temporary closure of retail, catering and visitor facilities. visit Old Trafford, ”Woodward added.
“We are encouraged by the return of the Bundesliga. This is the first major tournament in Europe to restart at the end of last week, they have completed nine matches, all of which took place on the ground without spectators.
Man Utd players are back to training in groups
"Just like in Germany and elsewhere, it’s now inevitable that our matches will take place in closed stadiums as the season continues." This reflects a part of the impact of the pandemic on the club, while the greater impact will be in the current quarter and potentially far more profound.
"There are still great challenges ahead for football in general, and it can be said that it will not be" business as usual "for a while."
“Our club is built on a solid foundation. The consequences of the pandemic are now widespread throughout the football community, not only for clubs but also by players, fans, broadcasters, sponsors and many parties. other related ”.
“We have to realize that this crisis will not disappear overnight and the world will be different from before. That will create challenges for football, like many other industries. ”
