Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United performs an overhead kick during the match against Atletico Madrid on March 15, 2022 in Manchester, England. Photo: VCG

This weekend is yet another that will highlight how far ­Manchester United have fallen. While the Red Devils are preparing for a trip to Goodison Park to face Everton, their two greatest rivals will be getting ready to square up back in ­Manchester in a game that could decide the ­whereabouts of the English Premier League title come the end of the season.

Liverpool travel to the Etihad ­Stadium where they take on Manchester City for a chance to take advantage in the title race. To make matters worse for fans of Manchester United, these two clubs are set to meet in the FA Cup semifinal at Wembley and could yet meet in the UEFA Champions League.

This backdrop provides further incentive as if it were needed for Manchester United to get their next managerial appointment right.

So far, as City and Liverpool have thrived under Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp respectively, United have failed to find a suitable long-term replacement for Alex Ferguson.

It will soon be nine years since the Scot left United as the champions of England, and nine years since the Old Trafford side came close to repeating that feat.

Wayne Rooney was part of that last team to win the English Premier League under Ferguson as well as playing key roles under replacement managers David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho.

The former United and England striker is now Derby County manager and has been doing a creditable job at the Rams, not least because of the points deduction the club has been hit with for financial irregularities.

Rooney has even been mentioned as a future United boss, though he did not proffer his name forward as a guest on a recent edition of Monday Night Football on Sky Sports.

What Rooney did point out what was the lack of stability at his former club, where German boss Ralf Rangnick has been employed as interim manager since they decided to sack Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November.

"There hasn't been a settled manager there since Alex Ferguson. The new manager needs time," Rooney said on Sky Sports.

"It didn't work with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and it hasn't worked with the new manager who has come in."

Rooney - who said that he would plump for former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino if he was picking the next United boss - added that the club has to get this decision right.

"Pochettino is a top manager and he knows how to work with top-class players and young players. They need to get that blend right because they can't afford to fail again."

"Pochettino has done it in the Premier League," Rooney said.

"He knows the league. If I'm choosing between those two, I'd go for Pochettino," the 36-year-old said of the decision between the two favorites to come in - PSG boss Pochettino and Ajax manager Erik ten Hag.

"He would need time and given time he would do well," Rooney said of the Argentine, who also managed Southampton in the English Premier League before taking over at Spurs, who he later took to the UEFA Champions League final where they lost to Klopp's Liverpool.

What Rooney is sure about is that United are well off the pace when it comes to their performances on the pitch.

"I have been [to watch Manchester United] a few times and it looks like a team of individuals," the club's record scorer said.

United's latest struggles came in a 1-1 draw against Leicester City at Old Trafford last weekend, a game they would have lost but for James Maddison having his winner chalked off by VAR. United are falling behind in the battle for fourth place - and the final UEFA Champions League spot. Rooney advised them not to bother with that particular target.  

"They would want the season to stop now and forget about qualifying for the Champions League. They are not going to compete next season in the Champions League.

"They have to rebuild and put themselves in a place, in three years' time, where they can challenge again for the Premier League."

That seems a way off for whoever comes in to replace Rangnick on a permanent basis. Whether it is Ten Hag, Pochettino or one of the other big names mentioned, they have a lot of problems to deal with starting with the players.

Paul Pogba is one of those who might leave the club this summer as his contract is set to expire, with Rooney saying it might be in the best interests of everyone if the French World Cup winner left the club for a second time.

"It would be better for Paul Pogba to move on," Rooney said on Sky Sports. "He hasn't had the impact he would have liked. He's looked a completely ­different player for France. It hasn't quite worked at Manchester United. There are few players they need to let go."

Rooney suggested that one of his former teammates might need to follow Pogba out of the exit door. Cristiano Ronaldo only returned last summer but the return has not coincided with an upturn in fortunes at Old Trafford.

"Ronaldo has scored important goals but looking to the future of the club you have to go with younger, hungry ­players. Cristiano is getting on a bit, that is football. He is a goal threat but in the rest of the game they need more."

While Pogba and Ronaldo should leave, according to Rooney, there are others who should definitely stay - even if they are struggling for form.

Club captain Harry Maguire has been criticized by fans and the media for some of his performances for United this season, though he received vocal backing from home fans as he faced former club Leicester City last week in the first game back from an international break where he was booed by England fans.

"I like Harry," Rooney said. "He hasn't been on his best form like a lot of players but for England he looks like a world-class center-back. If he can get his confidence back he can be a big part of [the rebuild]."

The rebuild has been going on nine years. It will be a decade since Ferguson left come the end of next season. Rooney is right that his former club cannot afford to get this wrong yet again.