To know where you’re going, you must first remember where you’ve been. Past is prologue. Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it. Pick your epigram or maxim, they all apply as Manchester United have been on a hamster wheel since 2013.
Since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, who went out with a bang claiming the 2012-13 Premier League title, United have been a shell of their former selves. Jose Mourinho is the third Manager to take control at Old Trafford since Fergie stepped down, and it’s been nothing but a hamster wheel to mediocrity.
The only addition to the Old Trafford trophy case since Sir Alex went away is last May’s FA Cup, won by Louis van Gaal in his final game.
Manchester United Vice Captain Michael Carrick claims that the team is now finally getting out of their post-Fergie hangover.
“It was never going to happen overnight,” Carrick said about a club that has missed out on UEFA Champions League qualification in two of the three seasons post-Ferguson.
“I don’t think we were ever going to suddenly move on so quickly. Sir Alex had been here so long. It doesn’t happen overnight and everyone just forgets about it, but there are certain signs that we are getting there. I can say that.”
“I know we are well away in the league, but there are signs that we can feel something is coming. Time will only tell with that, though,” the 35-year-old English midfielder continued.
“It is something to build on. It is not something where you just flick a switch and everything is all right.”
“You have to build as a team, gain experience, build something and get some momentum behind you,” Michael Carrick continued.
Ferguson led the club from 1986 to 2013. United are currently in sixth place, eight points behind Arsenal for the final spot in Europe.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous radio and television talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram and Sound Cloud.