In the 1980s, Manchester United used to have a slogan: “This season, we will be serious!” This became a joke when it appeared continuously for many seasons when the “Red Devils” tasted defeat and lost direction. However, at that time, there was still a belief that the Old Trafford team would return to the top.
Indeed, Man United proved this to be true when Sir Alex Ferguson brought the team back to the throne with the English championship title after 26 years of waiting. Under the Scottish legend, The Red Devils always showed seriousness in both playing style and results.
After Sir Alex left the coaching position in 2013, the Glazers took over the club in a commercial way, eroding the empire Fergie had built. Over the decade since then, Man United's success has been limited.
The lack of a proper recruitment strategy has been one of the main reasons for Man United’s decline. After Sir Alex, there has been a recurring cycle of managers coming and going without being able to achieve sustainable results. Each new managerial era started with great hope and promise but eventually collapsed, leaving behind a disjointed group of players and a team without direction.
Erik ten Hag is in a similar situation. The Dutch strategist was highly regarded when he led Ajax to many successes. However, his third season at Old Trafford became a disaster with the worst start in Man United's history.
High-profile players were signed but failed to deliver. Ten Hag’s tactical philosophy was slowly lost in the team’s style of play. Even when the team achieved some minor successes, there was a lack of consistency, making any expectations seem far-fetched.
Ruben Amorim is now said to be taking over from Ten Hag, giving fans hope that the Portuguese tactician has experience in building a team from the ground up and can make changes in both the style of play and the culture of the team.
However, it will certainly not be easy for Amorim to immediately transform Man United into a top title contender, with the team currently 14th in the Premier League and a less-than-impressive performance in the Europa League.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made some strong statements recently about changing the culture at the club, from the boardroom to the dressing room. While recruitment moves such as the signing of Omar Berrada from Man City and Dan Ashworth from Newcastle are positive, it remains to be seen whether these changes can put Man United back on the path of success.
Inconsistency from the training ground to the pitch has seen United easily beaten in important games. Scoring has also been a major issue for the team, with their total goals tally under 60 in the last three seasons - a modest figure compared to their rivals.
Man United still have promising young talents like Alejandro Garnacho or Rasmus Hojlund but for these players to reach their full potential, the club needs a clear and stable direction.
The past successes of teams like Liverpool, Arsenal or Aston Villa with the leadership of talented coaches like Jurgen Klopp or Mikel Arteta have proven that sustainable change can only be achieved with a long-term and reasonable development strategy.
When Sir Jim Ratcliffe announced his goal of returning Manchester United to the Premier League title by 2028, it was both ambitious and challenging. To achieve that, the “Red Devils” needed more than just a talented coach, they needed a solid system from the board to the dressing room.
