Sir Alex Ferguson insists the future is bright for Manchester United, even if Wayne Rooney does not agree with him.
Although the majority of United fans have been left unimpressed by the conduct of Rooney, for many the striker's claim yesterday that the club lacks ambition will resonate.
Burdened by a huge debt, which helped turn a £100million operating profit into an £80million loss, announced less than a fortnight ago, some United fans feel the club is now entering a downward spiral.
Certainly they have not made many ripples in the transfer market, despite the departures of Cristiano Ronaldo, for a world-record £80million, to Real Madrid, and Carlos Tevez, who moved rather closer to Old Trafford.
With a feeling growing that Rooney is going to end up as Tevez's team-mate at Manchester City, the general view among the Red Devils faithful is one of doom and gloom.
However, Ferguson takes a different stance completely.
"We will be OK. I have every confidence," he said.
"The structure of the club is good. We have the right staff, the right manager, a brilliant chief executive. There is not a thing wrong with Manchester United."
Ferguson's team ushered in their new era with a 1-0 win over Turkish champions Bursaspor.
Nani scored the sixth-minute winner, after which Ferguson highlighted the reasons behind his continued confidence.
"To maintain the success at any club is not a certainty," he said.
"I always believe a four-year cycle is the most you can achieve. Very few teams can go beyond that.
"We realised some time ago that Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville were not going to last forever. Therefore our policy is to develop footballers in the place."
He then recounted a story from United's last period of relative decline after 2004, which involved Rooney himself, and included the departures of star names Roy Keane and Ruud van Nistelrooy.
"A player said to me Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo were not good enough and he wasn't prepared to wait," said Ferguson.
"That is the problem with potential. People don't identify potential. We are very good at it. I have identified it all my life. I know potential. I know where it can be developed and how to develop it. I have faith in it.
"That is what this club is about. When you see Manchester United at the moment, with 14 players under 22, you don't see the Manchester United for years ahead.
"In terms of the future of Manchester United, there is a lot of things in my favour.
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"If I told you how many agents phoned me in a week, saying a player would love to play for us, and I am not just talking about run-of-the-mill players, it would amaze you.
"We still have that fantastic romance, and respect from everyone."
