‘A difficult time’ - David Beckham on Manchester United’s prolonged struggles

David Beckham feels Manchester United's struggles have gone on for too long (Imago/ZUMA Wire/Sports Press Photo)

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David Beckham hopes for a turnaround for floundering Manchester United (Imago/ZUMA Wire/Sports Press Photo)

‘A difficult time’ - David Beckham on Manchester United’s prolonged struggles

Seye Omidiora 14:02 - 13.05.2024

The club legend is unsurprised that the Red Devils have floundered since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement but believes the issues have gone on for too long.

Manchester United legend David Beckham hopes his former club return to the pinnacle of English football sooner rather than later. 

Manchester United’s struggles

The Red Devils are seemingly set for their worst season in the Premier League era, a further indictment of the slide since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013. 

Manchester United won five league titles in the Scotsman’s final seven seasons, but they have not tasted topflight success since the 82-year-old called time on his career. 

Manchester United have not been Premier League champions since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013
Manchester United's last Premier League title triumph came in Sir Alex Ferguson's final season in charge (Imago/Parsons Media)

Currently managed by Erik ten Hag, United were defeated at Old Trafford for a sixth time in the league in the 1-0 loss to Arsenal, leaving them eighth after a 14th top-flight loss in 2023-24.

What Beckham said about Manchester United’s struggles

Speaking to The Athletic, Beckham revealed that he expected the club to go through a transition after Ferguson retired, but undoubtedly only for a short time. 

David Beckham at Old Trafford in 2018
David Beckham pictured at Old Trafford in 2018 (Imago/Sportimage)

“I think it has been a difficult time over the last five or ten years, but it was always going to be when the boss left the club,” said the 1999 Champions League winner. 

“It wasn’t just that, we lost players like Ryan Giggs, Roy Keane and Gary Neville, all of these players that had been at United for so long; you lose part of that and you lose part of the club.  

“So it was always going to be a difficult time. But we’d like it to change pretty quickly because I think it’s gone on for too long now.”

What comes next for Manchester United?

Ten Hag’s side can still end sixth this season, even if that is contingent on winning their final games this term, including one against sixth-placed Newcastle United on Wednesday, and the Magpies and Chelsea dropping points. 

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Manchester United face a rematch of last year's FA Cup final on May 25 when they take on Pep Guardiola's Manchester City side, keen to avoid ending the campaign empty-handed.