Manchester United have boosted revenues by 16.5% for the quarter ending 30 September 2011 to £73.8m.

United reported growth in all areas, with the commercial side benefiting from the £40m deal with DHL to sponsor their training kit, helping it rise 22.3% to £29.6m.

While it meant the club was able to draw down some of its debt, now standing at £433.2m, it did however report a pre-tax loss of £6.9m, mainly due to currency fluctuations on its debt.

Media revenues were up from £19.4m to £22.6m, largely thanks to United's status as Premier League champions ensuring they get a larger share of the Champions League pot, and a lucrative five-match tour of the United States.

In addition, matchday income has also grown 9.6% to £21.6m, thanks to the first complete sell-out of seasonal hospitality boxes since the Old Trafford quadrants were completed in 2006.

After posting turnover of £331.4m and profits of £110.9m last year, matching a campaign when they won the title and reached the Champions League final, where they were beaten by Barcelona, will not be easy given Manchester City's rise to prominence, including a 6-1 derby-day annihilation last month.

It places more emphasis on the commercial side, which has grown thanks to a "territorial" approach to marketing, which rival clubs may attempt to copy. However, speaking last month, their commercial director, Richard Arnold, was relaxed about that prospect.

"There is only one Manchester United," he said. "While a lot of the strategy is public knowledge, I am very fortunate to be with the club I am with and able to do these deals.

"A lot of hard work has gone into getting to the position we are in now and we are already looking to the future. If people want to recreate what we did five years ago that is up to them. It isn't other clubs that I worry about; it is what we are going to be doing in the future."

United have also been boosted by recently securing five players on new contracts, including the England international Chris Smalling and the striker Javier Hernández, in addition to the summer arrivals of Ashley Young, Phil Jones and David de Gea.

However, there was no comment on speculation that the Portugal winger Nani may be the next to benefit from an extension to his present deal, which is due to expire in 2014. The position of the £30.75m record signing Dimitar Berbatov also remains unresolved.