Rijo Sam Daniel
Manchester United dealt harsh assessment on title drought following FA Cup upset
Former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino has handed Manchester United a harsh assessment over their current title drought after the recent FA Cup exit. They were on the wrong end of one of the most famous cup upsets this season, having lost out to Middlesbrough in the penalty shootouts.
The Red Devils have not won silverware since they were crowned as the Europa League Winners way back in 2017. Even though they are still in the Premier League and the Champions League, it is unlikely for them to win it based on how they have been performing. Now Cascarino, who played for the Blues between 1992 and 1994, has chipped in with his thoughts regarding the situation.
Speaking in an interview with talkSPORT (h/t Manchester Evening News), the 59-year-old expressed that success is achieved when the club functions well both on and off the pitch. He suggested that the reason for Man United’s glory under Sir Alex Ferguson was the same and that United have now declined to a level where making the top-four is seen as a success for them.
“There are so many things you have to get right and challenges for a football club to have success. It’s not just on the playing side, it’s all different aspects of the football club you’ve got to get spot on. Man United had a long time before Fergie, a time of stress and pain and changing the managers and a conveyor belt of players coming in and going out. “
“Under Fergie, success for the football club was challenging to win titles, and they did – the Premier League and the Champions League – the top honour. But now it feels like success for Man United is just qualifying for the Champions League.”
Sad truth
Earlier, club legend Wayne Rooney stated that the transfer policy during the start of the last decade was the beginning of the decline of the Manchester side. That could align with what Cascarino mentions above, considering it is mainly the players who are responsible for actually getting the results on the pitch.
We have to agree with what the former Chelsae striker said and it can’t be completely ignored that the Glazers, Ed Woodward, and the rest of the decision-makers at Old Trafford failed to keep United at the same level after Sir Alex’s retirement in 2013.
The recent FA Cup exit and the trophy drought are the results of all those wrongdoings throughout the last decade, which is taking their toll at this moment. It is no secret that we have not looked like title challengers for a while now and that UCL qualification, especially this season, would seem like a successful season to many of the club’s fans.
However, the level of competition in the Premier League makes it very difficult for any club to maintain hegemony for too long. When clubs like West Ham United are pushing for UCL places and Newcastle United are flexing their muscles after a change in ownership, it is natural for the big 6 clubs to lose their way a bit.
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But with us, the rot seemingly started right after Sir Alex’s departure. David Moyes never looked like the man to lead us to glory and after that, the managerial appointments never really seemed like they were made with a long-term plan in mind.
Ralf Rangnick was brought in as an interim manager this season, but he is in line to take over as a consultant following this season. Our performances under him have been questionable and if the club does bring in a new manager in the summer, they have to understand that there cannot be any compromises if they want to see this club back on its perch.
