Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker revealed to Alan Shearer that he felt Manchester United would “implode” after Sir Alex Ferguson left Old Trafford in 2013.
Sir Alex Ferguson called it time on his legendary 26-year career at Manchester United after he led the Red Devils to their last Premier League title.
David Moyes succeeded Ferguson at the end of the 2012-13 campaign and endured an ill-fated spell at Old Trafford, which culminated with his sacking in 2014.
United have had five permanent managers, including two caretaker managers and an interim boss, since Ferguson walked away from the Premier League club.
The Red Devils have struggled to climb back to the top of English football, with both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Jose Mourinho leading United to second-place finishes.
Mourinho, Louis van Gaal and Erik ten Hag have all lifted major silverware at Old Trafford, while Solskjaer’s managerial run at the club ended without a trophy.
Gary Lineker has now explained to Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer why he felt that United would struggle in the post-Ferguson era.
READ MORE: Sir Alex Ferguson once claimed he only managed four ‘world-class’ players in his Man United career
Lineker’s big Man Utd claim
Speaking on The Rest Is Football, Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker discussed Xabi Alonso’s success at Bayer Leverkusen and how he has been linked with Liverpool.
Alonso has been hailed for his work at Leverkusen, who are top of the Bundesliga this season, and has been tipped as a potential successor for Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.
Klopp stunned the world with his decision to leave United’s Premier League rivals Liverpool at the end of the season.
Lineker has now revealed his feelings when Sir Alex Ferguson announced his retirement from Manchester United and the seismic impact it would have at the club.
“I always thought that after Sir Alex Ferguson, I thought that Manchester United would implode,” he said.
“I thought it would be very difficult.
“I thought the same thing with Arsenal with Arsene Wenger because I think when someone of that magnitude has been in charge of a club for so long – and I will say the same applies to Jurgen Klopp and I would say the same will apply when Pep Guardiola calls it a day – that the person who takes over after them, I think, that is one hell of a task.
“I always said that the person that should take over Sir Alex Ferguson, you wait ‘til the one after the one that does take over. But obviously you don’t know whether you’ll get [those] opportunities.”
Shearer responds to Lineker’s admission
United fans have known all too well the troubles that the club have faced since Ferguson’s retirement, with over a decade passing since United’s last league triumph.
The Red Devils have lifted silverware in the post-Ferguson era, but United have struggled to mount successful challenges for the Champions League trophy or the Premier League title.
Shearer, who was heavily linked with United when Ferguson was in charge, appeared to agree with Lineker’s sentiments about big managers leaving clubs.
The Premier League legend insisted that “belief” is an important thing an individual needs if they want to replace an established manager at a big club.
Responding to Lineker, Shearer said: “You’ve got to have belief in who you are and what you are and all of those things and I would imagine that Xabi will do [that] – and, as I said, if he’s offered the opportunity.”
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