Rio Ferdinand held little back as he warned Manchester United to "write off the next year or two" and spend the time properly rectifying their many problems.
The Red Devils legend claims there will be "another upheaval" this summer with the appointment of a new permanent boss and urged the club to give Ralf Rangnick 's successor the time he needs without the pressure to deliver trophies.
Selecting the right manager is, of course, vitally important but United must also look beyond the dugout in order to address their glaring issues on the pitch and in the dressing room.
So, what needs to be addressed at Old Trafford? Here, Mirror Football highlights five issues the club must make right to get back to the top.
Appointing the next manager
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Understandably, this is top of the agenda for United chiefs as they look to finally unearth a manager capable of a long-term stint in the role.
Paris Saint-Germain boss Mauricio Pochettino is viewed as the leading contender to take over from Rangnick when the German's spell as interim ends this summer.
But Erik ten Hag is also highly regarded as he continues to help Ajax punch above their weight in the Champions League, while former Barcelona manager Luis Enrique is also in the mix.
Following the relatively brief - and often fractious - spells of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal, United need stability and must give the next incumbent the backing they need to improve the club's prospects.
Speaking on his Vibe with FIVE YouTube channel, Ferdinand claimed the only way for the Red Devils to progress in the long term is for them to "humble" themselves and remove the immediate expectation for silverware.
Deciding on a style of play
United's playing style will of course depend on who they appoint as their next permanent manager, and this is another area where stability will be key.
The Red Devils lurched from one extreme to another as Rangnick, appointed in late 2021, imposed a high-pressing philosophy far removed from Solskjaer's more reserved, counter-attacking approach.
Some players, such as Jadon Sancho and Anthony Elanga, seem to be relishing Rangnick's intense brand of football whereas others, including superstar striker Cristiano Ronaldo, have struggled to get to grips with it.
United's next manager must find a way of getting the best out of the squad as a whole while also bringing attractive football to an expectant Old Trafford.
Dressing room harmony
This season has been littered with reports of discontent in the United dressing room and the latest concerning update related to Ronaldo and Harry Maguire, who were embroiled in a tussle for the captaincy.
Elsewhere, Rangnick's training methods have proved unpopular among many and players even came up with a mocking nickname for his assistant, Chris Armas.
Finishing in the top four of the Premier League is hard enough even without divisions in the dressing room which are sure to impact on-pitch performance.
Indeed, United have only won two of their last five top-flight games and face an uphill battle to secure Champions League qualification over an Arsenal side with three games in hand.
Summer recruitment
This summer will be an intriguing one under a new regime at Old Trafford.
Richard Arnold has taken over from Ed Woodward as CEO while football director John Murtough is expected to have more authority with regards to recruitment. Rangnick will also have a say in the process as he takes on a consultancy role.
Once a deal has been agreed to appoint the next manager, United will need to identify players who will improve the squad in areas which have proved troublesome this season.
Rangnick was said to be targeting a central midfielder throughout the January window, so a new face in this position seems likely.
Elsewhere, United may decide to freshen-up their options at right-back with neither Aaron Wan-Bissaka nor Diogo Dalot nailing down the starting berth.
It remains to be seen how much financial backing the new manager will have ahead of the 2022/23 campaign but, after a quiet January, investment could be substantial.
Removing the dead wood
United's sales could be just as important as their recruitment as they search for the balance in the squad they have sorely lacked of late.
The Red Devils will need to decide what to do with Anthony Martial and Donny van de Beek when they return from their loans at Sevilla and Everton respectively.
They also face a tricky situation regarding Dean Henderson after the England goalkeeper pushed for an exit in January.
Some decisions will be made for the club with Jesse Lingard and Edinson Cavani all but certain to depart when their contracts expire at the end of the season.
This will help to trim a bloated squad and make room on the wage bill for new recruits.
