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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.
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ReutersRuben 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.
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“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.”
Man Utd ratings vs Fulham
MANCHESTER UNITED crashed out the FA Cup on penalties against Fulham.
Victor Lindelof and Joshua Zirkzee had poor spot-kicks saved as the Red Devils slipped to their sixth home defeat under Ruben Amorim.
Fulham broke the deadlock on the stroke of half-time with a well-worked corner.
Antonee Robinson darted to the near post and flicked it onto Calvin Bassey who directed his header into the bottom corner brilliantly.
Just as United’s frustrations were brewing, Bruno Fernandes was the saviour yet again.
He picked up Diogo Dalot’s perfect cut back and fired it beyond the stretch of Bernd Leno.
United had chances towards the end of the second-half, with subs Alejandro Garnacho and Chido Obi unable to finish.
There was nothing to separate the sides in extra-time and penalties were needed.
Despite well-taken kicks from Fernandes, Diogo Dalot and Casemiro, Lindelof and Zirkzee woefully fired directly at Fulham hero Leno.
But which Man Utd players could hold their heads up and which flopped?
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.”
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