LONDON – English Premier League soccer club Manchester United stuck to its full-year forecast for revenue and core earnings, even as it posted a drop in first-quarter revenue, partly due to playing fewer home games early in the season.
The 20-time English champions expect revenue of £615-630 million and adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of £175-190 million for 2018-19.
“Our financial strength enables us to continue to attract and retain top players and to invest in our academy, as we look to drive the success on the pitch that the club and our fans expect,” executive vice chairman Ed Woodward said in a statement.
United, whose squad features French World Cup winner Paul Pogba and Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea, are currently eighth in the Premier League, already 12 points behind leaders and cross-town rivals Manchester City.
Revenue for the three months ended September 30 came in at £135 million, compared with £143.7 million a year earlier, the club said on Thursday.
Match-day revenue fell 27.2 percent to £16.3 million, as the team played two fewer games at Old Trafford than at the same stage last year.