Man Utd release statement claiming they are still competing for trophies amidst horror run of form
MANCHESTER UNITED have released a statement claiming that they are still in the hunt for trophies - despite enduring a horror run of form.
The Red Devils have moved quickly to reassure United fans after Sunday's dreadful 2-0 defeat to West Ham at the London Stadium.
But the club have moved quickly to try and assure fans that things will get better at Old Trafford.
A United spokesman said: "Everyone at the club, from the owners down, is focused on competing for and winning trophies at the highest level.
"To do that we have invested heavily in the playing squad and will continue to do so.
"At the same time, the exciting pool of talent coming through our academy sections is a result of increased investment in this area over the last five years.
"It's important to note that while our successful commercial operation helps drive that investment, the priority is the focus on achieving success on the pitch.
"Similarly, it's worth noting that we are not looking at or buying players based on their commercial appeal."
The club were keen to reiterate to fans that they have learned from recruitment mistakes of the past.
They added: "We agree that recruitment is critical. We are committed to getting this right and there has been huge investment in this area to put our recruitment department into a position to be able to deliver the manager the players he wants.
"This process is significantly more effective than four or five years ago."
United's statement comes after damning stats were revealed after the defeat at West Ham.
The Red Devils are currently scoring at a rate of 1.33 per game - a huge drop from the 2.55 they were scoring back in 1999/2000 on the way to the title.
Bitter rivals Man City beat Brighton 8-0 on Saturday, equalling United's tally for the whole season in just one match.
SunSport columnist Alan Shearer labelled the Red Devils as "unbelievably bad" after Sunday's defeat - and Solskjaer looked visibly fuming on the touchline at the end.
When Marcus Rashford limped off at the London Stadium with a groin injury, Solskjaer was without all three of his recognised strikers - with Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood also missing.
United allowed Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez move to Inter Milan in the summer, and the former has banged in three goals in his first four matches for Antonio Conte's side.
The Red Devils host Rochdale in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night, before a vital next league assignment against Arsenal on September 30.