Manchester United players have held one-on-one meetings with Sir Dave Brailsford to find out the Ineos vision to restore the club to its former glory.
Telegraph Sport understands that Brailsford has met most of United’s first-team squad to present his and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos master plan and take observations and questions from players.
With Omar Berrada joining as chief executive and approaches made for Dan Ashworth and Jason Wilcox to take on sporting director and technical director roles, players have been briefed on a range of topics and issues.
The one-on-one talks, which have also taken place with staff members, are not linked to the future of manager Erik ten Hag and are said to have impressed players and left them feeling optimistic over the future with Ineos now in charge of football operations.
Brailsford has become a key figure at United in his position as director of Ineos Sport and is said to be among the first to arrive and the last to leave the club on a daily basis since Ratcliffe’s investment for a 27.7 per cent share.
Players have been personally briefed on short-term and long-term plans for the club and how Ineos intends to restore a culture of winning and excellence at Old Trafford. Those who have held talks with Brailsford have been given the opportunity to add their own thoughts and ideas, and ask questions.
Players not asked about Ten Hag
It is understood, however, that players have not been asked to give an opinion on Ten Hag or his management, with Brailsford seemingly keen not to undermine the Dutchman with United still trying to qualify for the Champions League and with an FA Cup semi-final to look forward to.
Outsiders are convinced that Ten Hag will eventually be replaced, but no indications of that were given during Brailsford’s face-to-face meetings with players which centred on more structural, club-wide and global matters.
Brailsford has moved quickly and decisively since Ratcliffe’s Ineos investment into United was confirmed, making approaches for Ashworth, who is in line to join as sporting director, and Wilcox, who has been targeted for a technical director job.
Wilcox would be the second former Manchester City employee, albeit via Southampton, to join United since the Ineos involvement after Berrada agreed to swap blue for red to become chief executive.
United continue to struggle to make meaningful progress on the pitch this season and were lucky to scrape a 1-1 draw at Brentford that made their bid to qualify for the Champions League even more difficult.
The season can still finish with silverware, with United looking forward to an FA Cup semi-final date against Championship club Coventry City, but players are said to feel positive about the direction Ineos want to take United in, regardless of how the rest of this campaign plays out.
There is also a feeling that the communication has already vastly improved since the involvement of Ineos, with United players and staff no longer in the dark or unclear over the club’s vision.
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