Harry Maguire has candidly expressed his belief that Manchester United's mental fortitude is not strong enough, which is hindering their success.
Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, the defender said that the United squad need to embrace the pressure of playing for such a prestigious club if they are to reclaim their position at the pinnacle of English football.
The Red Devils have not clinched the Premier League title since 2013 or the Champions League since 2008.
Maguire pinpointed mental strength as a crucial factor in overcoming the challenges faced by Ruben Amorim's squad: "I think it's mental strength, definitely. I think it has a big part to play.
"You've got to thrive off the pressure, and you've got to play like you're playing in a playground. And I think that's what we've struggled to find over the last 10 years.
"There has been a transition period, obviously, when Sir Alex (Ferguson) was here and we had the best team by far. And won all the trophies.
"But the transition period is, at the moment, the reality is that we're not the best team. And I think it's how people and how the lads can adapt to that level of scrutiny and to keep going through that scrutiny."
Maguire also pointed out that he has often performed better for England than for United, which shows proof of how difficult it can be playing for the Red Devils.
He also stated: "I think there's more scrutiny on Manchester United, just because more people in the country hate them. And that's just a fact.
"Everyone in the Premier League dislikes Manchester United, and they don't want to see them do well. So I think there is more scrutiny on Manchester United, whereas England, everyone gets together. Everyone."
Listen to the full Rio Meets Harry Maguire interview on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Go toRio Ferdinand Presents