Richard Arnold must be true to his word over Manchester United transfer spending

Every public comment issued by Manchester United's leaders begins with a dollop of introspection at the moment. The stains of the club's worst-ever Premier League season will take a long time to wash away.

Whether it is announcing the latest financial results or addressing a fans' forum, there is a sorrowfulness that must come before the pledge to put things right.

When speaking to that forum at the end of April, chief executive Richard Arnold promised a "relentless" approach to turning United into a success once more. The jury is still out, but Arnold has certainly been ruthless so far in his overhaul of Old Trafford operations.

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The unveiling of Erik ten Hag on Monday was the club's attempt to draw a line under the disastrous 2021/22 campaign. It was effectively the first day of next season, on the day Manchester City paraded the title and with Liverpool still to contest the Champions League final.

Other clubs can get on with applying the bows to this season, but for everyone at Old Trafford, it's already in the rearview mirror. An annus horribilis never to be discussed again.

The focus of Ten Hag and his staff, as well as football director John Murtough, is now on next season and how to start climbing the ladder once more. Nine years without a league title will undoubtedly become a decade next season and as Murtough told the fans' forum, this is a "long-term" project.

It's been noticeable how Ten Hag and Murtough have both stressed the "potential" within the squad recently. The Dutchman did so in his introductory press conference and Murtough revealed Ten Hag's candidacy was popular because he wants to "maximize the potential" of the