Teddy Sheringham has publicly criticized Manchester United's chief executive officer, Omar Berrada, for his optimistic pronouncements regarding the club's future. Berrada had stated his belief that Manchester United could win the Premier League by 2028, a claim that Sheringham has labeled as "dreamlike," emphasizing the need for patience and a step-by-step approach rather than making "pie in the sky" remarks.
Sheringham's comments come at a time when Manchester United are trying to rebuild and recover. The club recently endured a dismal season, finishing 15th in the Premier League, their worst top-flight performance in 51 years. They also missed out on European football after losing the Europa League final to Tottenham. Adding insult to injury, Liverpool equaled United's record of 20 English league titles, with their second title win since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure in 2013.
Berrada's vision, dubbed "Project 150," aims to see both the men's and women's teams lift their respective league titles by 2028, coinciding with the club's 150th anniversary. While Berrada has publicly expressed his confidence in achieving this goal, Sheringham believes such a rigid timeline can be detrimental.
Speaking to Sky Bet, Sheringham articulated his concerns, "Omar Berrada's comments are dreamlike. In football clubs, you've got to have small steps to get to places, and if you see those small steps and are encouraged and moving in the right direction, that's when you start looking positively (at the future)." He cautioned that setting such ambitious targets prematurely could be counterproductive, especially when the manager needs time to implement his strategies and improve the team.
The former United striker, who scored the equalizing goal in the team's dramatic Champions League final comeback against Bayern Munich in 1999, emphasized the importance of gradual progress. He suggested that focusing on incremental improvements and fostering a positive trajectory would be more beneficial than fixating on a distant, potentially unrealistic, goal.
Ruben Amorim, who took charge of Manchester United in November, faces immense pressure to turn the club's fortunes around. While he retains the backing of the club's hierarchy, Sheringham believes that Amorim cannot afford a slow start to the season. "For Manchester United, the results must improve," Sheringham stated, highlighting the urgency for tangible progress. He also noted the existing narrative of delayed expectations could be damaging, as the club is "a long way off being anything like the Manchester United of old."
Sheringham has also recently criticized Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana, advising him to "shut up" and focus on his performances. In addition, Sheringham has also criticized Marcus Rashford.