"Any club successful over a long period has fixed principles that new managers or players must adhere to or enhance," Rashford said on The Rest is Football podcast with Gary Lineker and Micah Richards. "But Man Utd is different, sometimes just reacting to situations, recruiting players to fit a temporary system. It's a reactive approach."

According to the 27-year-old forward, the constant changes in direction make it difficult for Man Utd to compete for the Premier League title. "You can win a few cups thanks to a good manager and players who can decide matches, but that's not the result of long-term planning," he expressed.

Manager Ruben Amorim directs Marcus Rashford during Man Utd's 3-2 win against Bodo/Glimt at Old Trafford, Manchester, England, 28/11/2024. *Photo: AP*

Man Utd was once a dominant force under Alex Ferguson, winning 37 trophies, including a record 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League titles, in 27 years. But since the Scottish strategist retired in 2013, the "Red Devils" have never regained their former status, despite being led by David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Erik ten Hag, and currently Ruben Amorim.

Every time they change managers or encounter difficulties, the club says they are in a "transition" process. But Rashford thinks this term is inaccurate. "To say you're in transition, you have to start that process," he said. "And that process at Man Utd hasn't even started. To begin, you need a plan and stick to it, despite the difficulties and pressure from the fans."

According to the England international, the excessive changes in managers, ideas, and strategies have left Man Utd in a state of "limbo" for years. "If you keep rotating like this, you won't get anywhere," Rashford emphasized.

Manager Jose Mourinho and Rashford during their time together at Man Utd. *Photo: Sky Sports*

Rashford named Van Gaal, Mourinho, and Solskjaer as the managers who most influenced his career, but didn't mention Amorim or Ten Hag. Speaking about Mourinho, Rashford highlighted the "win-at-all-costs" mentality the Portuguese manager brought to Old Trafford. "Before Mourinho, I had never worked with a manager who prioritized winning like that," he recounted. "Van Gaal also wanted to win, but he wanted to combine it with playing beautiful football. Mourinho didn't. If possible, Mourinho would want both. But ultimately, winning is winning, and immediately focus on the next game."

The 27-year-old admitted this philosophy confused him initially, as he had always been taught to win with a certain style since developing at Man Utd. "At first, I was often angry because even though we won, the team didn't play well. But with Jose, when we won, he didn't mention the shortcomings of the match. Only when we lost did he point them out. After about six months, I learned to respect that and benefit from him as a manager," the player, who recently moved to Barca, recalled.

Rashford celebrates the decisive goal in a 3-1 victory against Everton at Old Trafford, Manchester, England, in the third round of the FA Cup on the evening of 6/1/2023. *Photo: Man Utd*

Rashford rose through the academy before making his first-team debut for Man Utd in 2015. The 27-year-old forward scored 138 goals in 426 appearances for the "Red Devils". His peak was the 2022-2023 season under manager Erik ten Hag, with 30 goals in 56 games. However, he gradually lost his place and left Man Utd in 12/2024 due to conflicts with manager Ruben Amorim.

During a decade at Man Utd, Rashford faced criticism for both his performance and personal life. He believes some former players now working as commentators have been overly critical and asserts he won't do the same after retirement. "I'm more sympathetic to the fans' opinions because they can't know everything. But when it comes to former players, who understand football well, I find it difficult to understand," Rashford questioned. "When I retire, I won't do that. I don't want to bring players down; if anything, I want to lift them up because that way they'll play better on the pitch. Ultimately, we all want to see exciting performances."

Rashford spent the latter half of last season on loan at Aston Villa. In 17 appearances, the 27-year-old winger made a good impression, scoring four goals and providing five assists, but wasn't signed permanently. "Looking back, the timing of my arrival at Villa was perfect. The reception from everyone at the club and the fans was exactly what I needed at the time," Rashford expressed gratitude to the Birmingham club. "Six months later, I feel everything has completely changed. Everything I did at Villa, except for the end-of-season injury, went exactly as planned. The club is progressing, and the atmosphere in the dressing room is very positive."

Rashford's Barca debut on 23/7. *Photo: FC Barcelona*

Regaining his form at Aston Villa earned Rashford a call-up to the England national team under new manager Thomas Tuchel in March. However, the forward missed the June training camp due to injury. "I try not to put too much pressure on being called up to the national team. Obviously, it's something I want, but to achieve it, you have to work hard every day and show it on the pitch," Rashford stated. "The current generation of England players is very talented. It would be disappointing if we didn't achieve something special because we've come a long way in the past few years. The next step is to win a championship."

Rashford has just moved to Barca on loan, with a buyout clause of around 35 million USD. The English forward will wear the number 14 shirt, previously worn by legends Johan Cruyff and Thierry Henry. Rashford and Barca will begin the new season against Mallorca in the first round of La Liga on 16/8.

Hong Duy (*via Sky Sports*)