- Manchester United have failed to claim the biggest prizes since Ferguson’s exit
- The Red Devils were dumped out of the FA Cup following a penalty shootout loss
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Will Alejandro Garnacho stay at Man United?
Gary Lineker has questioned the state Sir Alex Ferguson left Manchester United in after their FA Cup fifth round defeat by Fulham.
The holders saw one of two unlikely avenues to European football next term slam shut on Sunday night after a penalty shootout loss to the Cottagers at Old Trafford.
It is the latest blow in a miserable campaign for the Red Devils that sees them languishing in 14th place in the Premier League and struggling for any consistency under Ruben Amorim.
The Portuguese who was appointed in November, is the seventh full-time manager of the club since Ferguson’s incredible tenure in 2013. All have failed to win the biggest honours. Indeed, United have not been involved in a title race, nor reached the latter stages of the Champions League since the Scots’ exit.
Lineker suggested that Ferguson departed when United’s decline was inevitable and contrasted the bountiful inheritance Jurgen Klopp left for Arne Slot at Liverpool.
‘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 during BBC’s coverage of the United defeat. ‘So the structure is really good.
Gary Lineker has questioned the state Sir Alex Ferguson left Manchester United in after their FA Cup defeat by Fulham
The legendary Scottish manager ended his glittering reign in charge of the club after winning the Premier League in 2013
Ruben Amorim is the seventh full-time manager at Old Trafford since Ferguson’s departure but all have failed to win the biggest prizes
Jurgen Klopp has been praised for leaving behind an incredible Liverpool squad when he chose to step down last term
‘That probably wasn’t the case at the end of Sir Alex Ferguson’s [time at Old Trafford]. 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.’
United were dumped out of the FA Cup after defeat by Fulham from the penalty spot after the sides could not be separated through 120 minutes of play. Calvin Bassey gave the visitors the lead at the end of the first half before Bruno Fernandes equalised in the 71st minute.
Post-match, Amorim blamed United’s failure to create enough big chances this season on the ‘quality’ of his players.
Amorim was asked post-match why his team have struggled to create meaningful opportunities this term, with the likes of Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee underwhelming up front.
‘I think it’s sometimes the quality of the players,’ he said.
‘Bruno, also Casemiro, Josh is improving a lot the connection, he’s fighting for every ball, he’s running all the pitch so it’s the quality of the players that help us to create more chances.’
