Marcus Rashford has given a blunt assessment of Manchester United’s struggles over the past decade, insisting the club has lost both identity and direction since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast with Gary Lineker and Micah Richards, Rashford—currently on loan at Barcelona—said United have been stuck in “no man’s land” due to constant managerial changes and short-term thinking.
The 26-year-old forward, who came through United’s academy during Ferguson’s era, said the absence of a long-term plan has prevented the team from realistically challenging for the Premier League title.
“Show me a successful team that just adapts,” Rashford said. “Under Fergie, not only the first team but the whole academy was structured so players from age 15 upwards understood the Man United way. Any coach or player joining had to follow those principles. Now, it often feels like United are just reacting—signing players to fit a system without a clear, consistent direction.”
United finished 15th last season—their worst top-flight finish since 1974—and are now on their sixth permanent manager since Ferguson’s 2013 departure. Rashford believes this constant turnover has stalled progress.
“The idea of ‘transition’ has never really started,” he added. “To transition, you have to begin it. No manager has been given three years to see a plan through.
If your direction keeps shifting, you can’t expect to win the league. Yes, you might grab cups with the right players or coach, but that’s not the same as a long-term vision.”
Rashford pointed to Liverpool as an example, praising how they trusted Klopp’s process despite early struggles.
“It took Klopp three years before winning anything, but they trusted the plan and then achieved the biggest trophies,” he said.
He admitted the club’s decline pains him both as a player and lifelong fan and stressed that United must rebuild their core identity to move forward.
“We’ve been way below where we should be,” Rashford said. “But with so many managers and strategies, it’s no wonder we’re stuck in no man’s land.”
Rashford’s candid reflections highlight just how far Manchester United have drifted since Ferguson’s era—and why fans and former players alike feel the club urgently needs a long-term vision.
