Patrice Evra blames HIMSELF and Sir Alex Ferguson for Man Utd's downfall
Manchester United have failed to win the Premier League title or regularly compete in the latter stages of the Champions League since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013
by Nathan Ridley · The MirrorFormer Manchester United star Patrice Evra says that he and legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson are both among those to blame for the club's downfall.
Evra, who played for the Red Devils between 2006 and 2014, winning five Premier League titles and one Champions League, believes that former players like him must shoulder a portion of the blame for United's demise. Since Ferguson bowed out by winning the league title in 2013, the club haven't lifted the trophy again and gone through five permanent managers.
United slumped to eighth in the Premier League table last season, their lowest-ever finish, and manager Erik ten Hag has only picked up four wins after 12 games this season, plunging his position into uncertainty. In a moment of self-reflection, ex-defender Evra admits that he's partly to blame for the Red Devils' fall from grace and continued struggles.
The Frenchman told BBC Sport: "I blame myself, I blame Sir Alex Ferguson. It's always tough to talk about United right now because back in the day we used to play for the fans, for the badge, for the history .
"When we left, we left too early and it's difficult for the players because they don't have any example. I'm not inside, I don't know what the problem is. The manager, Ten Hag, is trying to do his best - it's not good enough. But it's not just about this season, it's since we won the last league in 2013, the club has been in chaos."
Despite proclaiming that he'll be a fan of the club 'forever', Evra admits that United's future is 'not bright'. "I'm a positive man, but it's tough," the 43-year-old, who left Old Trafford a decade ago and signed for Italian giants Juventus, bemoaned.
Get involved! Who's to blame for Manchester United's downfall? Have your say in the comments section.
"Our rivals are getting better than us, play a better style of football. The future is not bright. It's a tough moment. Liverpool waited 30 years to win the Premier League again, now it's been 11 years [since United last won the league title]. I don't want to wait that long. No matter what, I will be a United fan forever, but it's quite tough to watch United play."
The Red Devils will come up against one of Ferguson's many successors, Jose Mourinho, in the Europa League on Thursday when they face Turkish heavyweights Fenerbahce in Istanbul. Ten Hag and Co. are yet to pick up their first win in Europe this season, drawing their opening two games.
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