Exclusive: Man Utd 'miles behind Man City and Liverpool' after terrible transfers - Paul Ince

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 19 Dec 2023 11:46 GMT
• 4 min read

Exclusive

Paul Ince says that the root of Manchester United’s problems lies in the poor transfers that the club have made in recent years.

Man Utd are currently in crisis and have made their worst start to a Premier League season in over 30 years.

They have already lost seven games and have a goal difference that is in the minus column.

They are already out of the League Cup, and were humiliatingly eliminated from the Champions League group stages after finishing bottom in a pool containing Copenhagen and Galatasaray.

Former Man Utd midfield star Ince, who was one of the best midfielders of his generation and played for the Red Devils from 1989 to 1995, believes that the club’s recruitment team are most to blame for their failures on the pitch.

United have splashed the cash on a number of players who have failed to live up to expectations. These include the likes of Antony, Paul Pogba and Alexis Sanchez, to name just a few.

What did Ince say about Man Utd?

“There are a lot of problems at Man Utd,” Ince told FootballTransfers via DAZN Bet.

“These are problems that were made six or seven years ago.

“It was always going to be difficult to replace Sir Alex Ferguson (who left in 2013). It was always going to be a poisoned chalice for David Moyes to take over straight away. Moyes didn’t have enough time. He didn’t have any finances.

“Van Gaal came in, that didn’t work. Mourinho came in, that didn’t work. Solskjaer came in, that should never have worked.

“Man Utd have always been miles behind the top teams, like Liverpool and City, in the last four or five years.

“In that time, Arsenal have got stronger, Tottenham have got stronger, Villa have got stronger. Brighton have got stronger. They have done business the right way, their recruitment has been fantastic.

“The recruitment side is the most important side of football, who you bring in.

“In the last six or seven years, from the recruitment side of things, Man Utd haven’t bought in the right players.

“That is down to the recruitment people, the management, the staff, it’s down to the club as a whole the players you bring in.

“And that is the reason why they have really struggled.”

Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag is under big pressure and there have been reports that he risks the sack if results continue to be poor.

Indeed, the imminent arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is buying a stake in the club and will assume control of transfers and recruitment, is also a cloud hanging over Ten Hag.

“Last year I think Van Gaal did well. His remit was to get into the Champions League by finishing in the top four, which he did,” Ince said.

“Then you look at the disappointing campaign they have had in the Champions League. When you look at Galatasaray and Copenhagen, if you can’t get past them. To only get four points out of 12 from those two teams, that’s not good enough for Man Utd. It’s been very disappointing.

“So the pressure is on [Erik ten Hag]. There is always pressure at Old Trafford. But with Jim Ratcliffe coming in - what changes is he going to make? - there is always going to be that kind of pressure.

“But they are out of the Champions League now, they are out of Europe. That might benefit them now as they only have to focus on Premier League matches.

“So you might see a different Man Utd team in the next three or four months of the season.”

Ten Hag did ease the pressure somewhat on Sunday as Man Utd earned a 0-0 draw with Liverpool, who had started the weekend on top of the table.