GARY LINEKER believes Manchester United's current struggles can be traced back to Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Red Devils crashed out of the FA Cup on Sunday following a penalty shootout defeat to Fulham.
Ruben Amorim's men are enduring a disastrous season, currently languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League.
Off the field, co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been criticised for a swathe of redundancies and cost-cutting measures.
Following Sunday's defeat at Old Trafford, BBC pundit and ex-England striker Lineker discussed United's plight.
And he believes the structure left in place when Ferguson left the club in 2013 was not adequate.
He said: "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.
"So the structure is really good. That probably wasn’t the case at the end of Sir Alex Ferguson’s [time at Old Trafford]."
Ferguson won the Prem a record 13 times with United, including in 2012/13 despite an ageing squad.
Lineker 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."
Lineker was joined on the panel at Old Trafford by Wayne Rooney, Danny Murphy and Micah Richards.
And former United striker Rooney admitted the club no longer have the pulling power that tempted him from Everton as a teenager in 2004.
The 39-year-old said: "You need to be in a stable position to bring the best players in.
"If I’m a player playing in a different country or a different club, Man United come to me, and I’m looking thinking, ‘You know, I’m not sure’.
"The top players want Champions League football. And unfortunately, that’s not where the club is."
Despite United's turmoil, Roo believes Amorim can be the man to turn things around - but admits challenging for a title is a long way off.
He added: I do think [Amorim] will get [time].
"It’s not a free hit because I think you’d expect a bit more from Manchester United than what we’re seeing since he’s been in.
"It’s very difficult to come in during the season and not have the pre-season to implement his plans with the team.
"He has to look to the future moving forward.
"He says [he wants to] win the Premier League but how can they compete to get a bit further up the table, I think that’s the next step for them.
"I think it’s a little bit naive to say ‘We’re looking to win the Premier League’ because, from where they are now, they’re a long way off that."
Meacelopty
0
Lineker is right.
Renblmrty
0
but for the moment I'm enjoying what they are going through and Amorin won't do much even if he buys his own
Renblmrty
0
man u was used to buying and intimidating referees especially in Epl ,that's why Ucl they could not challenge
masbceilt
0
Ferguson left 12 years ago. What, UTD can only improve their club if Ferguson says so? What is this ridiculous notion? The owners have watched the club disintegrate for the last decade and Lineker blames Ferguson. It's this type of twisted logic which has contributed to the decline of Utd. Take responsibility, this has nothing whatsoever to do with Ferguson.
All of them are good for nothing they don’t know what to say so they decided to call out a manager that won everything for the club these people are not even ashamed of themselves calling out Sir Alex Ferguson fools with no respect or brains
masbceilt
0
How is it Ferguson’s problem?
They are looking for who to put the blame on
Didaenrsz
0
I wonder why MU still keep him when he cannot deliver
AdrianShion
1
blaming SAF after he delivers so many silvewares and beautiful moments for united?Is this how the new generations nowadays appreciate a legendary coach? What a pathetic way to a headlines Gary.. did u win anything during your playing career huh???😂
new generation now doesn't understand the situation before comment. always be the first to comment or waiting for likes.
Believersministry1
0
First person to say the truth
chekwasi
2
blaming SAF after he delivers so many silvewares and beautiful moments for united?Is this how the new generations nowadays appreciate a legendary coach? What a pathetic way to a headlines Gary.. did u win anything during your playing career huh???😂
Always try and read through the line before dropping comments.
duabnsty
0
blaming SAF after he delivers so many silvewares and beautiful moments for united?Is this how the new generations nowadays appreciate a legendary coach? What a pathetic way to a headlines Gary.. did u win anything during your playing career huh???😂
the point did he leave the team in a good state 🤔, Sir Alex left a disaster finish n klaar
Wizprince11
0
Doesn't make it his fault, the team moyes got given was the same team that won the league. Same players. It would be David moyes fault for not getting those same players to do the same thing fergie got them to do. Why didn't moyes sell everyone? Why didn't he bring anyone good in? Why was everyone he brought in bad and why did he ruin united. Fergie didn't ruin it if you think so bad fan.
He his part of the crisis man he over used the players without replacing them those players are past of their peak
catorn
0
I think the management should still go and ask Mourinho. He still has hidden truths bottled up about Man. United😔
Nonaprsu
0
if u all remember tht Liverpool has suffer the same lengthy period of time in declining.They have the best squad in Liverpool during those time but keep failing to win the league
Nonaprsu
1
blaming SAF after he delivers so many silvewares and beautiful moments for united?Is this how the new generations nowadays appreciate a legendary coach? What a pathetic way to a headlines Gary.. did u win anything during your playing career huh???😂
bimiklmnoz
1
I m not a fan of MU, so good, keep on blaming n fingers pointing. Let MU be relegated into the Conference League
zembdimpsy
0
In football coaching,if your team wins,you are the best manager.If you lose,you are the scapegoat.In MU, that's not the only problem.With the way they are firing the ground staff to cut cost,I wonder whether they had the resources to buy the players Amorim wants in the coming summer........
zoeadelst
0
Include Hojlund and Mount
M_cAveli
1
Ferguson didn’t want the team to find it easy when he retired so that he would always be remembered. When he first planned to leave the team in 2008 and 2009 would have been best because they had a team that almost need no manager to win a game. But he instead held on, returned Paul Scholes after retirement instead of buying Sneijda from Tottenham as he wanted, but he never bought any replacement for the top players and kept using Chicarito as a main striker when he was too young for such role.
ShahidNYM
2
I have been saying this since 2015. That guy was super hyped. He left the club with aged squad. And never let any manager work on thier own. He still meddles in everything. However, we dump headed fans never understand this. Look what happens now. We only have the history now. This club is ruinning every footballers on the earth.
hiycdiktuz
1
I have been saying this since 2015. However, everybody has been criticizing more and more for this. they never understand . Still now that guy is meddling in everything.
wohdenuz
0
fuck
Footballislife0811
2
Now we can all see the reason pep sign 2more years he will never leave his club with tired players Barca was on form when he left Bayern even Hansi flicks thank him for the squad he left for him Now city and he signed when they are down he can just leave without stress
Juhabptuz
1
for once, I'm with Gary. when SAF's time was coming to an end, I told friends that this club will suffer. Fergie was making things right for the next coach. there were lots of deadwood at that time. and booom, he brought his kinsman, who wasn't in the right capacity to coach the team. Iv always maintained that Fergie is a huge part of our decline.
rokaekrsyz
0
jurgen klopp coah so nice for united it true work this club
rokaekrsyz
0
comback home united fa cup loses. ha ha it nope game
Hidadoprs
2
I blame Gary lineker for not being able to enjoy any matches or programs he is involved in
MikaelGuerrer0
2
How is it a 83 year old fault 🤦🏾♂️
fahaimptz
2
Ferguson is no longer a maneger live him alone dia
Torrique876
1
I wouldn't blame Ferguson, I would definitely blame the owners because Ferguson wanted to retire earlier and they didn't want him to the issue Manu face now is because of poor signings and horrendous wages they didn't evolve with time as Ronaldo said they stood the same place and felt that history was always bring them through when everyone invested long-term they were shortsighted.
saacdikns
2
Hojlund the man u striker who can go 5 games or more no score. what kind of a striker is this
Nooabknpty
0
Lineker Liverpool yes Slot mentain the team and make good relationship with the team not criticising them Infront of the media or trying to bring favourite players in so they play for him.
AFerDGdp0935
0
Was Manchester United struggling at the end of Sir Alex’s era or how can this be traced back to his time? Slot is playing with the same players he found, but looking at the players Alex left in Manchester United, they are no longer there…
hucelrsuy
2
same thing I have been saying for the last 12 years
Yibadelrst
0
TardssssS Lineker
baydknprtz
3
they will even blame the toilet
Wauabkosy
2
man united fans and their team thought they were invincibles.they use to laugh at Liverpool,even some of the former man united players,Garry Neville was Ryan giggs,they even said man u will win the league before Liverpool,they even said even if united become bad,they won't reach the low levels Liverpool reached...karma has found them now.its now 12 years and we are counting,will see when they win the league.
dave2080
0
hojlund stay zirk go absolute nonsense mount stay so he can continue to go injury every time and the manager will have no options zirk stay 10000000000% hojlund go ASAP mount just terminate his deal and get Wharton of crystal palace simple
neknpsz
0
I can see Manutd killed your teenage dream, a lot of nightmares as a kid, Sorry.
who is crying now,every next game for Manchester united ur not sure if u win or draw,u will cry and cry
gm11
0
Doesn't make it his fault, the team moyes got given was the same team that won the league. Same players. It would be David moyes fault for not getting those same players to do the same thing fergie got them to do. Why didn't moyes sell everyone? Why didn't he bring anyone good in? Why was everyone he brought in bad and why did he ruin united. Fergie didn't ruin it if you think so bad fan.
Yes but that was left for moyes to sort out, it was Fergies fault for trusting moyes to sort those things. But the players recruited and bought by moyes was bad, his tactics were bad he was bad. The it went down hill from there making stupid signings Ed Woodward is to blame all out from there. Sacking managers before they could finish the team they wanted to make never helped either. He was also to blame for allowing players to leave on a free leaving United with nothing.
neknpsz
0
I can see Manutd killed your teenage dream, a lot of nightmares as a kid, Sorry.
now ur reaping what u have planted,soon u will be fighting for religation with Everton and Wolves
Hotdlmnruy
0
let's laugh at garnacho cr7 underwear 🤣 😆 😂
neknpsz
0
Should we think that they would cheat for Man U in the time of Ferguson?
Ferguson was commanding that league,if he ask for opponent to be given yellow,red ,free kick or penalty it was given instantly, he had power more than anyone,Wenger,mourihno,Benitez and others has been complaining about that behaviour from ferguson
vecabcky
0
Gary Lineker,is an old pundit his brain is not functioning well, he even did not know if he mentioned Ferguson name.
tanelm
0
Fat fuxk betrayed his team and joined MU
miguelbumba
0
Pundits can say whatever they wish or are say whatever they are paid to say but the most important is the club has to get most of their decisions right. Like the guy (Answorth?) Utd snatched from Newcastle and spent millions just to get him but after 6 months or so he got fired and treated as if he committed treason and Utd were the Scotland Yard or MI 0; not to mention that Sir Ratcliffe said publicly that the same guy is amongst the best in the business.. Unless you got your decisions right, you are good to go but Utd does seem to get most of their stuff way off the mark..
Leodltz
0
if manchester united are to in any tournament, then those legends must first shut off such criticism
HERMANNO19
1
Amorim could have done better than the current results if only he used the available players to implement a playing system. He wants to implement his system of 3-5-2, which the players are still struggling to cope with because you need extremely good wingers and attack to succeed.
kukabilruy
1
baarka
pedclnopst
5
HOWARD WEB is the answer to the problem of Manchester United.
podinptuyz
0
alex bought the league at his time. now u see why they cant win anything.. hahahahah
But where does this come from? Is there any proof?