Marcus Rashford has not pulled any punches when talking about Manchester United’s struggles.
Now on loan at Barcelona, the forward says the club has been stuck in “no man’s land” since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
In an appearance on The Rest is Football podcast, Rashford said United’s problem is not just about bad results, but a lack of long-term planning.
Since Ferguson left in 2013, six permanent managers have tried and failed to take the club back to the top. None lasted three years.
“Show me a successful team that just adapts,” Rashford said. “When Fergie was in charge… you could pick players from 15 years and over – that’s a full generation. And they’d all understand the principles of playing the Man United way.”
The 27-year-old believes United keep reacting to problems instead of sticking to one vision. “If your direction’s always changing, you can’t expect to be able to win the league,” he added.
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Cups are possible, he said, but league titles require more than “match winners” and good coaches.
Rashford names one team Man United should learn from
Rashford pointed to Liverpool as the example to follow.
“When Liverpool went through this, they got Klopp, they stuck with him. They didn’t win in the beginning… To start a transition, you have to make a plan and stick to it.”
He admitted it’s tough for any club to hold its nerve when results dip, especially with fans demanding change. But without patience, he argued, there is no real transition — only constant restarts.
United start their new season under Ruben Amorim against Arsenal on Sunday.
Big summer signings have arrived, but Rashford’s warning is clear: trophies in the short term won’t matter if the club’s long-term vision stays offside.
