AFP, Manchester
Manchester United ended last season with disappointment on the field and uprising among their support off it, but the rancour has dissipated as two major signings have allowed the Red Devils to look ahead to the new campaign with renewed confidence.
Jadon Sancho's arrival at Old Trafford from Borussia Dortmund was a drawn out saga two years in the making, but United moved quickly to secure Raphael Varane from Real Madrid.
An outlay of over £100 million ($139 million) has temporarily at least quelled the anger directed at the club's American owners, the Glazer family, for their attempt to form a breakaway Super League and a perceived lack of investment in the club since a controversial leveraged takeover in 2005.
United's Premier League clash with Liverpool was postponed in May as fans stormed the pitch before kick-off at a time when they were still shut out from the stadium due to coronavirus restrictions.
With restrictions now eased, Saturday could see the first full house of 76,000 at Old Trafford for 17 months when Leeds visit on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.
But planned protests against the Glazers have been muted with the focus instead on what Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men can achieve once the action gets underway.
