In our exclusive interview, the former France international discusses United's summer transfer business, Marco Silva's success with Fulham and where Everton must improve.
Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha has questioned Marcus Rashford’s attitude over his last two seasons at the club, but has backed the Englishman to succeed following his loan move to Barcelona.
Rashford scored 30 goals in all competitions in 2022/23, but has failed to rediscover that form over the past two seasons, scoring just 15 goals in total for United and another four while on loan at Aston Villa.
He has now joined Barcelona – the favourites in the football betting to win La Liga this season – on a season-long loan with the hopes of returning to his best for one of the best sides in Europe.
In our exclusive interview, Saha also discusses new United arrivals Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, and gives his verdict on the transfer business of two of his former clubs, Fulham and Everton.
Manchester United have signed Bryan Mbeumo after some drawn out negotiations. How important is it for the club to have got the deal done?
I think it’s important that it’s done and with the right timing. The closer to the start of the season, the more difficult it becomes because you have a lack of understanding with the players. They may need another striker, so there is a lot of things that need to be achieved for the manager in that period.
I do think that Mbeumo is a player who can represent the unpredictability, the power, the consistency. There are a lot of things that he has proved last season. He will definitely have a challenge to actually do that in a higher club with more expectation.
I’m sure that with the players around like Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha, there is hope that going forward we have more power, more consistency and links between the players. Hopefully if we do have another striker signing it will be a good combination.
Do you expect United to go back into the market for a centre-forward?
It definitely was the issue last year. Defensively, we were stronger. We seemed to be more stable. We had a few mistakes from the goalkeeper, maybe a few from the defenders, but that’s obviously something that’s going to always happen in any season.
With the lack of strength we had in midfield and the lack of ability to finish our opportunities, there are definitely a lot of weaknesses that need to be addressed, and having the striker gives you confidence because whenever you’re not playing well, he’s able to actually score his own goals. He’s able to score the goals that are important and can change the nature of the games.
It is very important that the manager finds this with the striker, and that also gives the right platform for Hojlund or Zirkzee to perform as well, because there is not so much pressure only on their shoulders.
United have been linked with strikers including Nicolas Jackson, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Viktor Gyokeres over the course of the summer. Who would you like to see them sign?
When you look at Europe, it’s not easy to find a No. 9 that is very consistent with his own ability to create his own chances. We’ve seen that Victor Osimhen has signed for Galatasaray, Benjamin Sesko was maybe signing for Arsenal, or now maybe United. Those targets are extremely interesting.
There is the Juventus striker that I really like as well, Dusan Vlahovic. There are players with that type of profile who can definitely be the target man, but also some players with experience who can really help the club to get back to where it belongs. You need those goals, you need that charisma at the very top of the field because it brings the confidence to the other players. I think those profiles are extremely important.
Do you think United have missed that character and confidence from their attacking players in recent years?
I call it players with the balance of arrogance and humility. We had Ibrahimovic. I always felt that this guy was the perfect fit, because he had this charisma, arrogance, people would call it, but it’s not arrogance, it’s just confidence and hard work.
The guy worked really hard and helped a lot of the players around him, so this is the type of character we needed. When you give that responsibility to 22-year-old and then 20-year-old strikers, they have to prove a lot of things. It’s extremely hard.
I thought that it was a mistake to put that on the shoulder of Hojlund or Zirkzee and say, “you are the guys, you are the No. 9 and you should go and score 30 goals to get us in the Champions League and challenge for the title.” I think it was a mistake and it needs to be addressed because this is how we build the confidence of youngsters. You can’t progress because you have had five or 10 good games. It’s not enough. You need a season or two, and then a real understanding of how things can change in a click. So all those things have been asked of youngsters, and I think it wasn’t fair.
Cunha and Mbeumo have made a similar move to you, in that they’ve done well in the Premier League and then made the step up to Man Utd. Did you feel much pressure to make that move, and how do you think the new signings will deal with it?
I think they have the character. I can see that in their game, as I said it’s based on the quality you bring to the side because you want to play every game. But my time was a bit different because I came to a club where we were winning massive trophies and had different types of players. They were not facing a crisis like we are at the moment. I knew that they had great midfielders, a great defence and great goalkeepers and it was just a matter of time to get it right.
I think it’s extremely difficult confidence-wise. You have maybe three or four players that may leave, very talented players. You have Rashford who is signing for Barcelona, Sancho is on his way out as well. Antony, we don’t know. Garnacho, we don’t know.
I didn’t have any pressure. It was just excitement because I knew I would score more goals because of the type of players I was playing and training with, so I knew I would improve. There is a bit of uncertainty and I feel like it’s a lot of pressure that you have to take on.
So basically, everybody hopes that Cunha and Mbeumo will make the difference. Whereas I didn’t come with a tag. Yes, I would bring something, but I played with Van Nistelrooy and then Tevez arrived and Rooney. Alan Smith arrived. Giggsy was already there, Paul Scholes was already there, Roy Keane was there, Rio Ferdinand was already there. So I had full confidence in the world class players around me, so I knew I would improve.
I don’t think it is the same situation. I do not underestimate the kind of difficulty that those guys are facing and it’s extremely hard when the club itself is facing a challenge and changing stuff, I think it’s extremely complex.
Teddy Sheringham recently said Marcus Rashford didn’t deserve to go to Barcelona. Do you agree with him, and do you expect Rashford to get back on track in Spain?
I think it’s a fresh start. There are definitely things that he has to improve on as a player, as a man. You understand that you were at the club of your heart, but definitely he will still miss the environment. It was like something broke, that’s for sure, so that’s why he’s going. I just wish him well.
But I understand what Teddy Sheringham said. He hasn’t shown respect to the club. I was really sad, really sad because he’s such a big player. It’s a profile I really like, I support, so I felt disappointed.
But I know in a career, sometimes you make mistakes and you grow. You can still say that he’s a young lad. All these posts that he’s done recently showing him really working hard in the gym, it’s things that I love to see, him with more consistency and more focus.
When he was at United, it was his responsibility. He was the star, the guy coming from the academy, the guy that people expect performances from and are extremely demanding of. And I don’t think that he understood that. So I think it’s sad because it was a love story, people wanted him to succeed there.
I think going to Barcelona is going to be almost a step up that he hasn’t deserved in some way, but he will definitely prove that he’s a terrific player. Manchester United will miss Rashford in some games, maybe not his attitude or his character sometimes.
Sometimes he was a paradox, showing a very confident stature and at the same time asking to be protected by people. When you’re scoring 30 goals, you expect people to protect your legacy and your status when you’re performing. He wasn’t performing. So for this reason, I was extremely harsh with him, because we’ve seen he was able to score 30 goals. He was able to represent a lot of things for the youngsters inside or outside Manchester, obviously in England. So I had really high hopes for him, and that’s why I’m sad.
Rashford’s move is a loan with an option to buy, and in Antony, Alejandro Garnacho and Jadon Sancho, United have players on big wages with no spot in the team. Do you see a way back at United for any of those players?
I don’t think so. It’s more about attitude, the kind of position that they put the club or themselves in. They don’t respect the position. When those guys are young, those things are down to the club as well. Everyone has a responsibility and you always need two to tango. The club and the players have made mistakes, and yes, there is a third party here. It could be intermediaries or agents or whatever.
You can’t make those mistakes. When you don’t bring the right balance in a team, some young talented players may not be prepared to take on those kinds of responsibilities alone. They think they can take over. They think that they should deserve this or deserve that. United can’t afford to have those situations because when those players or those agents realise that they have some kind of power, they create volcanoes or earthquakes, it’s really bad and it goes all over the world. That’s what agents take as an opportunity to make a move or get a bigger commission. It’s a sad situation.
I think that football should be respected. You should be focused on progressing, progressing, progressing, and eventually you’re lifting trophy after trophy. Those guys wanted to get the credit for something that they didn’t deserve yet.
Sometimes they just make a fool of themselves. Some communication was absolutely ridiculous. I didn’t understand Garnacho, so young, he may have played with a balanced team maybe 10-15 games because there was such a competition in front of him. You should just admit that ‘I’m happy because I played 15 games.’ But last year we almost expected that Garnacho was going to save us. That’s not normal. So that’s why this kind of attitude then appears, because he gets too confident then.
I don’t blame him. It’s normal. It’s human. He thinks that he’s such a big star already. No, he’s just a youngster growing up and trying to progress. They gave him without notice a status that he doesn’t deserve, and now he’s asking for a starting position or whatever. No, it’s ridiculous.
Another of your former clubs, Fulham, are on an upward trajectory. Do you think Marco Silva gets the credit he deserves?
I think he had a learning process, especially when he arrived at Everton, but before he was doing really well and arrived at Fulham with a different type of experience, a different type of platform, the foundation that Fulham needed, consistency. That kind of slick football that he managed to create was in his DNA.
He’s been given all the tools to do that and he’s done really well. I think everybody can respect his job, his communication, his drive. A lot of Portuguese managers have that kind of talent. We recognise that those guys know their football, but they know how to create discipline and at the same time create exciting football. So I’m not surprised by the results, but I’m really pleased to see him stay because there is a way Fulham can catch the European positions and why not win a cup?
They definitely deserve it because they’ve managed to gain momentum every year. They have established themselves as a respected team and not because of the table position, but because of the performances against big teams.
Is there a concern that like Thomas Frank with Brentford, Silva’s success at Fulham could lead to him moving to a bigger club?
Yeah, I think that it’s definitely attractive when you have such a good connection with the players, with the fans and the club gives them the tools, you can see him improving and I think that’s the target of any manager.
Again, getting a more established team in the league, it will happen. Hopefully before that they’re lifting a trophy because Fulham is such a big club, such a lovely club, a family club. There are so many aspects of this club that I really like so I’m thrilled to see the progress, because they have really improved in the last two years. The fans have enjoyed the type of football that they played, and Marco Silva deserves all the credit.
Last year they gained confidence and gained a lot of respect, so I think that it’s going to be a harder season because every team will respect them. At the same time, I feel confident with a few signings that they have in view now, they can make a big difference.
Fulham have reportedly rejected a £32m bid for Rodrigo Muniz. How important is it that they hold on to him?
I think at some point when you are in that moment of growth as a squad, growth as a club, with the new section of their stadium, it is the brand of a club that is establishing itself in the Premier League. They will maybe want to win a cup very soon, so there are elements that you need to hold and sometimes you need to upgrade. With Muniz there’s something that I really like because he’s got this understanding of being part of the squad, but at the same time he’s a very talented individual.
So yeah, he can be given a bit more through the season to help him score maybe 20 goals or more. With Jimenez up top, they can play maybe as a two. There are a lot of options and this is where Fulham can grow as a team.
There will be understanding that you maybe need to change the status of being a provider for those teams above you. So yeah, it’s important that you make the right investments and right calls. Sometimes players need to go, some others need to join, but Muniz is definitely a player I would keep.
What’s your opinion of Everton’s new striker, Thierno Barry?
Those kinds of moves feel like you have a bit more of a guarantee, because French players adapt very quickly into the Premier League, I feel confident that he’s got the quality to do that, but it’s a step up.
You still have to adapt very quickly because Everton can’t afford to have the same start as they’ve had in previous years. I still feel very confident he’s got the ability to provide the kind of goals that they need.
Last year I thought Calvert-Lewin and other players couldn’t finish the opportunities. They created quite a few opportunities, especially when David Moyes arrived and they managed to grab some points here and there. But they need more confidence because they played some great football toward the end of the season and Moyes knows that those types of players that are fast and provide unpredictability can be very interesting.
How will Everton look back at Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s time at the club?
He’s the type of player who can take you to the top at certain moments because he’s very, very strong and can be a really good point of reference. But when you’ve got injuries, when you have a team that is maybe not confident, losing games that they should be drawing, which was the case over the last three years – they really needed Calvert-Lewin at his best. But that wasn’t the case.
It’s maybe a time where the club needs to find another point of reference. The competition itself is something that could be good as well. Maybe they could have kept Calvert-Lewin and brought another striker in.
Beto has been a great solution. But sometimes I feel like there is a need for better connection with the other players. They seem to play with one up top. There is a possibility where there is three moving alongside and they have a bit of unpredictability where every player can score goals. This hasn’t been the case with Everton. Doucouré was almost the top scorer for the last two or three years.
Where do you think David Moyes will be looking to improve the squad as Everton head into the new stadium this season?
I think they need a playmaker. Getting a striker is done now, but you need to keep Branthwaite and get more in defence as this team struggles to find stability when they start the season.
It’s more about creating a squad than buying new players. I think the players are good. I’ve seen what they they’ve managed to do, especially the last 10 to 15 games since Moyes arrived. But even before I felt with the previous manager, they were good players.
I was surprised that they couldn’t finish games. They always managed to disappear for 20-25 minutes. So it was more mentality. And then when David Moyes arrived, I think he connected something that was missing. Even with the fans, they almost understood the tactics way more.
But I do think with a few additions it will provide them stability because in the past when they had a few injuries they struggled straight away.
Do you think there’s a chance that Alexander Isak leaves Newcastle this summer?
I think there is a chance, he’s a lad that a lot of teams are going to speak about because he’s an amazing player. I think he’s one of the top strikers after Haaland. There is this need everywhere in the world to find a No. 9, but Newcastle will have to fight to get Isak to stay.
I heard that he has a contract situation where he maybe wants to improve his salary but he’s already a big earner. Newcastle have proved that they are here to achieve big things. They did it last year but they can do way more and Isak needs to be part of that.
The signing of Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt is really, really interesting for Liverpool. I’m excited to see that. I don’t know what’s going to happen with Darwin Nunez, so there is a lot of things going on.
But that’s a headache for every team now at this moment, the No. 9 position is always very, very important for any manager. The quicker you’ve got them in your squad, the better, because it impacts the way you’re going to play.
Liverpool have signed Ekitike, Chelsea have signed Rory Delap and Joao Pedro and Arsenal look likely to sign Viktor Gyokeres. Which striker would you expect to make the biggest impact?
It’s a difficult one because some of them are new names in the Premier League. When you look at the Delap, he is still a young lad. Chelsea have signed a very interesting player in Pedro. I do think that he’s going to have an exciting partnership.
With Gyökeres in Arsenal. I think it’s going to be a good fit. This season Arsenal understood that they needed a striker that’s going to have a proper role, scoring the tap ins and scoring any type of goal – someone who can actually catch Haaland and Isak. It’s interesting to see those kinds of signings. I really like Šeško as well. There is always excitement around the Premier League but this year it feels like there is even more.
