Man Utd's decline: Why Sir Alex Ferguson has been blamed for club’s current state

Man Utd's decline: Why Sir Alex Ferguson has been blamed for club’s current state

Seye Omidiora 13:45 - 23.02.2025

Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS group are reportedly tired of hearing about Manchester United’s past under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Some influential figures at Manchester United believe that Sir Alex Ferguson is partly to blame for the club's decline, as reported by the Mirror. 

Ferguson was in situ at Old Trafford for 27 years, from 1986 to 2013, winning 28 titles (excluding the Community Shield), including 13 Premier League victories, five FA Cup successes and two Champions League crowns before his retirement. 

Sir Alex Ferguson
Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson pictured in 2013 (Credit: Imago)

The Red Devils have floundered since the legendary manager’s retirement, with experienced heads like Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho unable to get a consistent tune out of the side, while David Moyes, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Erik ten Hag barely either struggled with the weight of the job or could not sustain initial results. 

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Why INEOS blame Ferguson for Man Utd’s state

According to Mirror Football, INEOS chiefs Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford are said to be keen to distance the club from its past glories under Sir Alex Ferguson. 

They believe that the club's history is hindering its progress and that a fresh start is needed.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe
Sir Jim Ratcliffe pictured with former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson (Credit: Imago)

“INEOS want absolutely nothing to do with the past,” an Insider told Mirror Football. “They don’t want to hear how things were done when United were winning 13 Premier League titles and they won’t accept any suggestion that lessons can be learned from when the club’s greatest-ever manager was in charge.

“It’s all very well drawing a line under the last 12 years and saying ‘let’s move on.’ But it’s become an obsession not to mention the period when United were one of the best teams in Europe.”

On the pitch, United stayed 15th despite a late comeback from 2-0 down at Everton to draw 2-2 in Saturday's lunchtime Premier League fixture

The Red Devils host Ipswich on Wednesday, aiming to end a run of three winless fixtures in the league. The reverse fixture, Ruben Amorim's first match in charge of the club, ended 1-1 in November 2024.