Manchester United legends have never mattered, why should their opinion of anyone?

Manchester United legends have never mattered, why should their opinion of anyone?

Manchester United and Arsenal are supposed to be two of the biggest teams in England, however, after the former earned what was their first win at the ground of their rival in almost eight years, their legends have come out from their cradles; not just to celebrate the win, but to try and downplay a team they trail by 12 points.

This immediate pivot from victory to vitriol exposes a deep-seated insecurity. Rather than analyzing the tactical aspect of the game, these figures, led by Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand, lean on the prestige of their past medals to invalidate the modern progress of others, creating a narrative where no contemporary achievement can ever truly measure up to their golden.

But the story of Manchester United’s conquest in those days is not without its controversies, so maybe, it is a surprise to them that no team can do what they did, in an era of VAR, and other advancements.

But from flop managers to failed pundits, the years and trends have shown that Manchester United legends have never mattered. Why, then, should anyone even entertain their opinions of Arsenal, or any other club for that matter?

Manchester United legends have never mattered

The Manchester United legends of this era; comprising players who enjoyed the club’s golden years under Sir Alex Ferguson, who won 13 Premier League and two Champions League titles among other achievements; are becoming a blight on the football world.

While many were exceptional players during their careers, it appears they lack proficiency in any football-related field following their retirements.

They have proven unable to succeed even in the relatively simple task of providing insightful punditry.For years, they have consistently undermined the managers appointed since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure; consequently, Manchester United has remained unable to secure a true successor to their legendary leader.

During this period, the club has employed world-class managers such as José Mourinho, veterans like Louis van Gaal, modern tacticians in Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim, and relatively inexperienced coaches like Ole Gunnar Solskjær. Yet, none have achieved sustained success.

The constant interference of these legends in club affairs has been counterproductive and following two victories under interim coach Michael Carrick, a former teammate, their internal criticisms have subsided, and they have now begun to target other institutions.

Their failures in football management are well-documented. Gary Neville attempted a tenure with Valencia in 2015, but after earning just three wins in 17 matches, he was dismissed following a 7-0 defeat to Barcelona and has not returned to coaching since.

Paul Scholes, too, had a short spell in football management. At Olhan Athletic, he was sacked after one win and three losses in seven games, that after he had been fined for breaching betting regulations during his time at Salford City.

Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs, Roy Keane, and others have their episode of disgraceful conduct during and post professional careers, and in punditry, they’ve been afforded a platform to stay relevant, yet they remain unable to provide thoughtful analysis, instead delivering biased and evidently malicious commentary.

Paul Scholes recently remarked, “If Arsenal wins the league, this could be the worst team to win the Premier League.”

This assertion ignores the fact that Arsenal has finished as runners-up in each of the last three seasons, accumulating point totals that would have secured more than half of the thirteen titles won by Sir Alex Ferguson.

In the same season where the Gunners and other Premier League clubs have been the dominant force in the Champions League, Rio Ferdinand disregarded the fact, citing that “Arsenal are lucky that everyone else is sh*t.”

Phil Jones too? Incredible.

Why Man United legends’ opinions of Arsenal not matter?

In Arsenal, they’ve chosen the wrong target. A side that has been nothing short of sensational since the commencement of the season. Even if the Gunners fail to achieve ultimate success by the end of the campaign, they have so far not strayed from the right path.

Although Arsenal was winless in three Premier League fixtures after the United defeat, they navigated a challenging period consisting of four consecutive away matches across all competitions in the same period.

During this period, they secured three victories and one draw; and while emerging unscathed only to subsequently suffer a defeat at home in a fixture they have dominated in a while is undoubtedly disappointing, it does not signify a definitive crisis.

Six Premier League matchdays ago, Arsenal were almost level on points with Manchester City, yet they now maintain a six-point lead. In a competition as rigorous as the Premier League, any lead is significant.

Nevertheless, following a rare victory for their team, the Manchester United legends have unleashed the toxic sentiments they have long harbored, offering them for public consumption. In reality, however, their opinions remain inconsequential.

If they can come up with such hateful comments just because their team secured a win in a ground they’ve not tasted a win in almost eight seasons, speaks volumes about what they think of their own club.

Like Darragh MacAnthony said, “I think Paul Scholes does his best to stay relevant,” but even at that, one has to be more reasonable, especially for a man who has built a legendary status as a player.

Kehinde-Hassan Afolabi