Last Updated:
Since Alex Ferguson’s departure as manager, Manchester United have failed to contend for the Premier League title or the Champions League.
Marcus Rashford has joined Barcelona on loan. (AFP Photo)
Marcus Rashford criticised Manchester United’s lack of strategy, describing it as leaving the English giants in “no man’s land” after he joined Barcelona on loan. The 27-year-old, who made 426 appearances for United after progressing through the club’s academy, departed Old Trafford in January for a loan spell at Aston Villa following a fallout with new manager Ruben Amorim.
United endured their worst season since being relegated in 1973/74, finishing 15th in the Premier League and failing to qualify for European competition. Rashford attributes United’s issues to the instability resulting from appointing six different managers since Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013.
“We have been way below where we deem United to be but then if you take a step back, which I’ve been able to do, especially over these last six months, what do you expect?” Rashford told the Rest Is Football podcast.
“When Liverpool went through this, they got (Jurgen) Klopp, they stuck with him. They didn’t win in the beginning. People only remember his final few years when he was competing with (Manchester) City and winning the biggest trophies. To start a transition, you have to make a plan and stick to it. It’s not easy to do. But this is where I speak about being realistic with what your situation is.
“We’ve had that many different managers, different ideas and different strategies to win that you end up in no man’s land.”
Since Ferguson’s departure, United have failed to contend for the Premier League title or the Champions League.
Rashford remains one of the few success stories for the Red Devils during this period. After debuting as an 18-year-old in 2016, he scored 138 goals for the club, winning two FA Cups and two League Cups. He believes the winning culture established during Ferguson’s 27-year tenure has faded.
“When Ferguson was in charge, not only were there principles for the first team but they were for the whole academy,” Rashford added. “Any team that has been successful over a period of time, they have principles that mean that any coach or player that comes in has to align to or add to the principles. At times, United were hungry to win… but it was reactionary. If your direction is always changing, you can’t expect to win the league.”
Rashford seems to have played his last game for United, with his move to Spanish champions Barcelona including an option to buy for a reported 35 million euros (£30 million, $41 million).
With AFP Inputs
Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience in digital…Read More
Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience in digital… Read More
view comments
Read More