Plight of Pogba, Sancho and others is cautionary tale for any Carrick rebuild
Manchester United’s lavish attacking rebuild in 2021, intended to close the gap on their rivals, is portrayed as a warning for any future overhaul under Michael Carrick. Despite early optimism after signing Jadon Sancho and retaining Paul Pogba alongside Bruno Fernandes, the squad failed to develop into a cohesive, title-challenging side, exposing weaknesses in planning, leadership and tactical transition.
United spent £163m combined on Pogba and Sancho, emblematic of the Ed Woodward era’s preference for high-profile signings and commercial appeal. Pogba supplied four assists against Leeds in the opening match of that season, but he and Sancho are now without clubs; Sancho left quietly when his contract expired after loans at Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea and Aston Villa. Fernandes is the only surviving attacker from that group, while Solskjær later conceded his team were not ready to abandon counterattacking football and compete directly with elite opponents.
- United’s 2021 rebuild became a costly cautionary tale.
- Pogba and Sancho now lack clubs.
- Cohesive planning mattered more than star signings.
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Manchester United have spent much of the past decade trying to return to regular title challenges after the retirement of manager Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013. The club has changed managers and signed a series of expensive, high-profile players, but has struggled to build a settled team that consistently competes with England’s leading sides.
Paul Pogba, a France midfielder, returned to United from Juventus in 2016 for a then-record fee, while England winger Jadon Sancho joined from Borussia Dortmund in 2021 after several strong seasons in Germany. Bruno Fernandes, a Portugal midfielder signed in 2020, became an important creative player, and Ole Gunnar Solskjær was manager during the 2021 rebuild.
Michael Carrick is a former United midfielder who has previously worked as a coach at the club and elsewhere. Any major rebuild would involve deciding which players fit a clear style of football, how the team should be coached and how signings can work together over several seasons.