Marcus Rashford has given his verdict on the situation at Manchester United after moving to Barcelona on a season-long loan.
Rashford has joined Barcelona from Man UtdSays transition at former club yet to startIs hurt to see Red Devils in declineFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The forward left Old Trafford this summer after being deemed surplus to requirements by Ruben Amorim and has joined Barcelona on loan. Rashford has now assessed the current situation at Manchester United and feels that a period of transition is still yet to start, despite the appointment of Amorim last season and a host of new players being brought to the club this summer.
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He told podcast: “People say that we’ve been in a transition for years but to be in a transition you have to start it. The actual transition hasn’t started yet.
“When Liverpool went through this, they got [Jurgen] Klopp and stuck with him. They didn’t win in the beginning. People only remember his final few years when he was competing with [Manchester] City and winning the biggest trophies. To start a transition you have to make a plan and stick to it.
“This is where I speak about being realistic about what your situation is. We’ve had that many different managers, ideas and strategies in order to win that you end up in no man’s land.
“When [Sir Alex] Ferguson was in charge, not only were there principles for the first team but they were for the whole academy. So you could pick players from 15 years and they’d all understand the principles of playing the Manchester United way. Any team that has been successful over a period of time has principles that mean that any coach or player that comes in has to align to or add to the principles. At times, United were hungry to win but it was reactionary. If your direction is always changing you can’t expect to win the league.”
Rashford also admitted it hurts to see his former club struggling, adding: “Yeah, 100 per cent. But not just as a player but as a fan.”
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Manchester United endured a dismal campaign after finishing down in 15th place in the Premier League last season but will be hoping for an improvement in the coming campaign. The Red Devils have strengthened by bringing in Matheus Cunha, Diego Leon, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko and remain keen on Brighton midfielder Carles Baleba. There have also been changes off the pitch, with the club unveiling a new £50m renovated training building at Carrington.
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR RASHFORD?
Rashford will be hoping to make his La Liga debut for Barcelona on Saturday against Real Mallorca but he is still not registered by the Catalan giants and faces an anxious wait to see if he will be eligible for the game. Back in the Premier League, Manchester United will kick off their campaign against Arsenal at Old Trafford.