Sir Alex Ferguson Talks David Moyes, Louis Van Gaal & Manchester United: Premier League Failure Simply A Formality?

When Sir Alex Ferguson retired as Manchester United manager, many insisted that nobody could replace him. So far both David Moyes and Louis Van Gaal have tried, and neither have had much success to shout home about. The former Red Devils coach has had his say on the matters, shedding light on the thoughts so many have been second guessing for the last few months. The update of his 2013 autobiography has some interesting information, and extracts have suggested it's going to be an 'explosive read'.

Alex insisted everything was in place for success when he left, saying, "Antiquated was a bizarre description of the structure I left behind," said Ferguson, who retired in 2013. "There appears to be a view out there that there was no process [appointing Moyes]. Nonsense."

He continued, saying that Moyes struggled because of the "massive jump" he had made, saying, "As the results deteriorated, each defeat was a hammer blow to him. I could see that in his demeanour. In January we bought Juan Mata and that gave everyone a lift but I could see the walls squeezing in, leaving David with less and less room to breathe. I know that feeling from 1989, when we went through a terrible spell. You feel you are being crushed. The results gnawed away at David. Nobody could dispute how disappointing the season was. And it cost a man his job."

When discussing the squad's age, he continued: "Chelsea started the current season as favourites for the title, with a squad that also had six players in their 30s. I don't hear any grumbles about the age of their group."

Can anyone replace Alex, and did he know this mess would follow his departure?