Gary Lineker has suggested that some of Manchester United’s “problems” can be dated back to Sir Alex Ferguson’s legendary managerial spell at Old Trafford.
Sir Alex Ferguson is regarded as one of the best managers of all time and the 83-year-old Scotsman had a remarkable impact during his time at Manchester United.
The legendary former United manager led the Red Devils to all 13 of their Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies and a famous continental treble.
Ferguson, who also had a sensational impact in Scotland with Aberdeen, ushered in a period of dominance in English football for the Red Devils when he was in charge.
The United legend bowed out of Old Trafford at the end of the 2012-13 campaign after he led the Red Devils to their last Premier League title in 2013.
Lineker on Man Utd problems post-Ferguson
Manchester United have failed to climb back to the top of English football since Sir Alex Ferguson called it time on his legendary managerial career.
Ruben Amorim has become the sixth permanent United manager in the post-Ferguson era after his arrival from Sporting CP last November.
The 40-year-old United manager succeeded Erik ten Hag in the Old Trafford dugout after his predecessor was sacked as Red Devils boss last October.
Ruben Amorim faces a massive uphill task at the Red Devils in the 2024-25 campaign, with United languishing in 14th place in the Premier League table.
The former Sporting CP boss suffered a major setback on Sunday evening after Fulham knocked United out of the FA Cup on penalties at Old Trafford.
Speaking after Fulham’s fifth-round FA Cup win, Gary Lineker highlighted that Liverpool set up Arne Slot for success after Jurgen Klopp’s exit from Anfield.
“If you look at Liverpool now, they’ve got a new manager in Arne Slot, and it’s testament to how Jurgen Klopp left the club in a really good state,” he said on BBC One, as per the Metro.
“So, the structure is really good.”
Lineker on Man Utd issues during Ferguson era
Lineker then added that United’s cracks started to emerge before Ferguson retired, with the Scotsman lifting the league title with a side that “wasn’t” his best.
The Match of the Day presenter claimed that former United manager Ferguson had players who were “coming to the end of their careers” in his final team.
According to Lineker, even United’s youth academy system “wasn’t delivering” players for Ferguson on the same par as players from the likes of the ‘Class of ’92.’
“That probably wasn’t the case at the end of Sir Alex Ferguson’s [time at Old Trafford],” he continued.
“I know they won the league that season, but it wasn’t their best side, and a lot of their great players were coming to the end of their careers.
“I think from there they had problems. The academy wasn’t delivering the players that they were before.”
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
