Former Manchester United and Liverpool midfielder Paul Ince has delivered a scathing assessment of his old club, pinpointing a humiliating FA Cup defeat two decades ago as the moment he knew the Red Devils' aura of invincibility had shattered.
The Infamous FA Cup Collapse
Ince, who played for both United and their bitter rivals Liverpool, has singled out United's dramatic 4-3 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup fourth round during the 2003/04 season. The match, played on January 17, 2004, saw Sir Alex Ferguson's side, then reigning Premier League champions, throw away a lead to crash out of the competition at Molineux.
"I remember when Manchester United lost to Wolves in the FA Cup," Ince stated. "That for me was the time I thought, 'Wow, something's not right here.'" He described the performance and result as "embarrassing" for a club of United's stature, highlighting it as a key indicator of shifting fortunes.
Ince's Stinging Critique of United's Decline
The 56-year-old pundit didn't hold back in his broader criticism of the club's trajectory since the retirement of legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson. He argued that the standards and fear factor once associated with Manchester United have completely evaporated.
"When you look at Manchester United now, they are a million miles away from where they should be," Ince declared. He emphasised that during his playing days, facing United was the ultimate challenge, a mentality he believes has been lost. "There was a fear factor. You don't get that now," he added, stating that opponents now see facing United as a prime opportunity to secure a positive result.
A Call for Restoring the 'United Way'
Ince's comments extend beyond one match, framing the Wolves defeat as a symbolic early warning of a prolonged decline. He expressed frustration at the club's continued struggles to recapture its former identity and dominance over a decade after Ferguson's departure.
The former England international stressed that the solution lies in a fundamental reset, focusing on the core principles that made the club great. "They need to get back to what they are known for: the 'United Way'," Ince insisted, calling for a return to the attacking, fearless football and winning mentality that defined the club's most successful era.
While the defeat to Wolves happened 20 years ago, Ince's use of it as a benchmark underscores the depth of the current crisis at Old Trafford, where past failures are seen as prophetic of present-day issues.
