Marcus Rashford wonders when someone at Manchester United will take the lead in helping the fallen English giants out of “no man’s land.” The forward, currently on loan from Man Utd to Barcelona, notes that a lot has gone wrong at Old Trafford since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013.
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Marcus Rashford, now aged 27, has spoken candidly about the ongoing struggles at Manchester United, drawing on both his personal experience at the club and his observations of footballing success elsewhere.
Although he never played under Sir Alex Ferguson, the legendary Scottish manager who transformed United into one of the most dominant forces in football history, Rashford has a clear understanding of what made Ferguson’s era so unique.
By the time Rashford made his senior debut in 2016 under Louis van Gaal, Ferguson had already been retired for three years. However, growing up in United’s academy, Rashford was immersed in a culture and footballing environment that still carried the remnants of Ferguson’s influence. In his view, those guiding principles – from the first team right down to the youngest academy squads – have been steadily eroded in the years since.
Speaking on the popular podcast The Rest is Football, the England international recalled how Ferguson’s leadership went far beyond match tactics. It was about an overarching identity that shaped how every player in the club approached the game. "When Ferguson was in charge, there were not only playing principles for the first team, but for the entire youth academy," Rashford explained. "There was a consistent way of playing, a clear philosophy that everyone understood."
In contrast, Rashford argues that Manchester United today lacks any such unifying vision. He laments the absence of a “red thread” that connects the style and mentality of the senior squad with that of the youth teams. "I can’t name a club that was successful by constantly changing their style of play," he said, suggesting that United’s repeated tactical overhauls under different managers have created instability rather than progress.
Since Ferguson’s departure in 2013, United have had a carousel of managers – from David Moyes, to Louis van Gaal, to José Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Ralf Rangnick, Erik ten Hag, and now Rúben Amorim. Each came with their own ideas, formations, and transfer targets. Rashford’s criticism is that while managerial change is normal, successful clubs manage to integrate new ideas into an existing framework rather than reinventing themselves every two or three years.
"At every team that has been successful for a while, you see new managers and players come in, but they often add something to the club’s philosophy," Rashford observed. "At United, I felt it became only about winning – but in a reactive way. If you keep changing course, you won’t win league titles. Yes, maybe you’ll win some cup competitions, but we have fallen far below the level United should be aiming for."
The forward also expressed frustration at the idea that United has been “in transition” for over a decade. "People say the club has been in a transition for years, but at some point you need to actually start it. That transition hasn’t even begun," he said. Rashford’s own career reflects some of that turbulence. After being loaned to Aston Villa last season, he returned to Old Trafford only to be told by new manager Amorim that he was free to find another club. This summer, he joined Barcelona in search of a fresh challenge.
Despite his criticisms, Rashford insists that there are models for United to learn from – and he points squarely to Liverpool. The Merseyside club, long a fierce rival of United, was in a difficult period before appointing Jürgen Klopp in 2015. For several years after his arrival, Liverpool failed to win major trophies, but the board resisted the temptation to sack him. Instead, they backed his long-term vision, built a squad to suit his style, and reaped the rewards with a Champions League title in 2019 and a Premier League triumph in 2020.
"Liverpool chose Klopp at a certain point and kept faith in him, even though they went years without winning trophies," Rashford said. "People now only remember the last few years under his leadership. You need to have a plan and stick to it."
For Rashford, the contrast between Liverpool’s patient, consistent project and United’s constant managerial changes is stark. "So many managers, ideas, and strategies have come and gone at United," he concluded. "The club has ended up in no man’s land."
His words will resonate with many United fans who have watched their team drift further away from the Premier League’s summit since Ferguson’s departure. While there have been moments of success – FA Cup, League Cup, and Europa League victories – the club has not come close to reclaiming the dominance of the Ferguson era. Rashford’s call is for a reset: a clearly defined football identity, consistent leadership, and a willingness to endure short-term setbacks in pursuit of a long-term goal.
Whether United’s current leadership under Amorim and the club’s new sporting structure can deliver that remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: if Manchester United fail to learn from the examples of their rivals, Rashford’s warning that the club is “in no man’s land” may continue to ring true for years to come.
Updated: 11:01, 13 Aug 2025
