Doubts at Old Trafford revealed as Manchester United prepare to host Newcastle

Manchester United are set to welcome Premier League opposition to Old Trafford for the last time this season as Newcastle visit the North West.

The Theater of Dreams became the stuff of nightmares not for the first time this campaign on Sunday after defeat to Arsenal. Sky Sports and other broadcasters showed footage of the heavy rain in Manchester, which caused flooding in the stands, the away dressing room and a waterfall where the East Stand meets the Sir Alex Ferguson end.

The floods have raised questions about the future of Old Trafford, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe pledging to find a solution. The INEOS founder is leaning towards building a new stadium next to the current ground and has launched a taskforce to weigh up the best course of action.

READ MORE: Why Ratcliffe’s Old Trafford masterplan is a tough sell

READ MORE: United make immediate £2bn roof decision

At the weekend, Ratcliffe met Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer to discuss the plans further. But what do the players who made their names at Old Trafford think of the iconic venue, MEN Sports collected what was said.

Gary Neville

Neville has been one of the main critics of the Glazers for allowing the current stadium to fall into disrepair. He has also been appointed to the Old Trafford taskforce and will have a say in the final outcome.

In March, the former United captain spoke about the options facing Old Trafford. “I think everyone knows it’s one of two options: either refurbish and refurbish the existing Old Trafford or develop a brand new stadium next to Old Trafford,” he said.

“Nobody knows the answer to that, because to be fair, the one thing I won’t do is disrespect… what are the costs? What is the feasibility? What are the possibilities? What are the restrictions? All the things that come into play Where would United play while they renovate their own ground?

“I know other clubs like Real Madrid have done it, but every stadium is different. Every structural solution is different.

“Until you get into the meat of the work and see what’s really being brought forward, then I don’t think anyone has the answer. Until you get into the meat of the work and see what is really brought forward, then I don’t think anyone has the answer.

“The work that goes on and the findings of the work that breaks down (will help shape a decision), but it will also come down to the commercial aspect of what will be offered. We know that a new stadium – well, a renovation. it costs a lot of money – but a brand new stadium costs more. These are the questions that need to be answered in the next few months.

Rio Ferdinand

After witnessing the leaks at the weekend, Ferdinand expressed his surprise at seeing Old Trafford in that state. “I thought it was a joke, I thought it was AI doing magic. Is it true? It’s incredible what I witnessed there,” he said on his Vibe with Five podcast.

“It was just a little rain and. It wasn’t even a big rain, it wasn’t like what we saw in Dubai the other day.”

Louis Saha

Speaking to Paddy Power, Saha explained that the current state of affairs at Old Trafford shows how little respect has been paid to United’s fan base. “They pay the tickets, they create the atmosphere and they have to have a better experience,” added the Frenchman.

“The pictures of the leaking roof are ridiculous for those who are proud of the club, it’s unacceptable. It is a bad sign that the investment was not made in the right place at the right time.

“I’ve heard Gary Neville complain about it many times and he’s been warning the club about it for a while. To get to that point, it was really embarrassing.

“It’s symbolic, but it means a lot. For a fan who paid so much for membership and ticket, they were not respected. It needs to be addressed – fans shouldn’t have to see that.”