Marcus Rashford has expressed his disappointment with Manchester United’s recruitment strategy in recent years, lamenting the club’s shifting direction. Having departed Old Trafford for a season-long loan at Barcelona where the Spanish giants have the option to make the move permanent the England international has not held back in his criticism.
Following a January exit after a fallout with United manager Ruben Amorim, which saw Rashford spend the latter part of last season at Premier League side Aston Villa, hopes of reconciliation were dashed when Amorim controversially remarked he would prefer to start his goalkeeping coach over the forward. Rashford has now taken the opportunity to speak out about United’s “reactionary” approach to signings.
In a conversation on The Rest is Football podcast, Rashford said: “Successful teams over time adhere to principles that any incoming coach or player must align with or enhance. United, at times, have been too eager to adapt and sign players for short-term fixes, resulting in a reactionary stance. Constantly shifting direction makes it unrealistic to anticipate a league victory.”
He continued: “Cup wins may come due to having a good coach and match winners, but you don’t reach that point by mere chance. We’ve fallen short of where United should aim to be, but a broader perspective over the last six months indicates this was expected.”
Rashford urged Manchester United to learn from Liverpool’s resurgence under Jurgen Klopp: “People say we’ve been in transition for years, but a true transition begins with a plan. Liverpool’s success stemmed from appointing Klopp and showing patience without immediate wins. His early years at Liverpool were not trophy-laden, yet his tenure ended with them competing with City for major honours.”
He added: “To genuinely start a transition, a structured plan adhered to over time is essential. A realistic approach is crucial given the numerous managerial changes and varying strategies, leaving United in a state of limbo.”
Marcus Rashford remains vocal about the need for Manchester United to stabilise, advocating for a dedicated and consistent approach in their long-term ambitions.
READ MORE FOOTBALL UPDATES: