- Marcus Rashford says Manchester United have lacked a clear plan since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
- He claims the club has been “reactionary” with constant managerial changes.
- Rashford believes United have not truly started a proper transition.
- He compares United’s impatience to Liverpool’s patience under Jürgen Klopp.
Marcus Rashford has criticised Manchester United’s strategy in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, saying the club has been “reactionary” and stuck in “no man’s land” due to frequent managerial changes.
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Rashford, who joined United’s academy at seven years old and is now on loan at Barcelona from Aston Villa, said Ferguson’s era was built on clear football principles shared across all levels of the club.
“You could pick players from 15 years, a full generation, and they’d all understand the principles of playing the Manchester United way,” Rashford said.
Since Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, United have had seven permanent managers. Ruben Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag last November, while Ole Gunnar Solskjær remains the longest-serving post-Ferguson boss, lasting three years.
In that time, the club has not won the Premier League and endured its worst season last year, finishing 15th. Rashford said the constant changes have prevented any long-term progress.
“People say we’ve been in a transition for years. To be in a transition, you have to start the transition… At times, I feel like United have just been hungry to win, so we’ll always try to adapt and sign players that fit this system. But it’s reactionary.”
Rashford contrasted United’s approach with Liverpool’s under Jürgen Klopp, who went three seasons without a trophy before delivering a first league title in 30 years.
“To start a transition, you have to make a plan and stick to it,” he said, warning that frequent changes in direction make league success impossible.
When asked if United’s struggles have been hard to watch, Rashford admitted it was painful both as a player and a supporter.
“Yeah, 100%. But not only as a player, just as a United fan.”
