Manchester United have officially opened their new £50m training facility at Carrington, with defender Diogo Dalot insisting there can be "no excuses" for a lack of success. The comprehensive renovation, designed by Foster + Partners, was unveiled at a ceremony attended by the full squad, coaching staff and club officials, including minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who cut the ribbon.
Sir Alex Ferguson was also present to unveil a plaque honouring Kath Phipps, the long-serving club receptionist who died last year. Ratcliffe said the upgraded complex was befitting of a club with ambitions to become one of the best in Europe, adding: "We are delighted with the outcome and are confident the new facility will play an important role in building a winning culture at the club."
Dalot, speaking at the event, said: "The big thing that I like the most is now there's going to be no excuses. Ultimately, the thing that will define us is what we do on the pitch. We're getting all the conditions to put us in the best position to win. And then we just have to make that final step."
The renovation addresses a layout that had become disjointed since United moved to Carrington from The Cliff at the turn of the century. The project, prioritised as part of Ratcliffe's £237.6m infrastructure investment, includes upgraded fitness, nutrition and recovery areas, an altitude training room, a basement with recovery pools, and additional communal spaces. Facilities also feature a barber's shop, a Formula One simulation room and a padel court, with sleep pods and dry floating tanks due to follow.
The men's team will now take full use of the site, allowing the women's side to return to its own facilities after being moved into temporary structures during the past 12 months of building work. Goalkeeper Tom Heaton, who first trained at Carrington in the early 2000s, said: "We've all been blown away by the opportunity this is going to provide in terms of a world-class facility."
