Mark Bosnich says Sir Alex Ferguson has a ‘lot to answer for’ for Manchester United’s woes
FORMER Manchester United goalkeeper Mark Bosnich says Sir Alex Ferguson has “got a lot to answer for” as the club looks for David Moyes’s replacement.
FORMER Manchester United goalkeeper Mark Bosnich says Sir Alex Ferguson has “got a lot to answer for” after the club sacked David Moyes, Fergie’s choice to replace him, after a disastrous campaign.
While plenty of former United players have criticised the playing group for their role in Moyes’s axing on Tuesday, Bosnich, who played for United between 1999-2001, says the revered manager has to take some of the blame, adding Ferguson’s “control” spurred his appointment of Moyes rather than a high profile figure like Jose Mourinho or Carlo Ancelotti.
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When asked on Fox Sports News how much responsibility Ferguson should take for the situation the club now finds itself in, Bosnich responded: “a lot”.
“For me, it was quite telling that (when) the guy he chose ... when there were rumours going around and mounting pressure, he stayed completely quiet.
“It’s a great, abject lesson for all sporting clubs around the world not to let your ex manager choose the one who is coming in.
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“I think Sir Alex Ferguson chose David Moyes because he knew that David Moyes would’ve taken a lot of time to get up to speed to what Sir Alex did and he knew during that time people would still be thinking of him.
“He knew that if he chose a manager like a Jose Mourinho or a Carlo Ancelotti that they would have made sure his memory would have eroded much quicker than a David Moyes would have in terms of the success they would have had.
“He’s got a lot to answer for.”
Bosnich added that United had no choice but to dismiss Moyes, particularly once the club was mathematically out of the running for a Champions League spot, meaning the board could limit the compensation paid out to the dismissed manager.
“The tipping point would have been a couple of months ago when they lost 3-0 to Liverpool and Manchester City,” Bosnich said.
“Probably staying in the Champions League bought him a bit of time.
“But the performance against Everton on the weekend and the fact they can’t qualify for the Champions League has left the club with no choice.
“I think David Moyes is a lovely man, but at the highest, highest level it doesn’t make a difference.
“With Liverpool on the verge of its first league title since 1990, I think that would’ve exacerbated things ... for the supporters and the board.
“So I think they had no choice.
“He had to go.”
WHAT THEY SAID: THE CANDIDATES
JUERGEN KLOPP
“Manchester United is a great club and I feel very familiar with their wonderful fans,” he told The Guardian, “but my commitment to Borussia Dortmund and the people is not breakable.”
PEP GUARDIOLA
“I’m at Bayern and I signed for three years. I feel that we can still improve.
“I changed my Catalan culture for German and that wasn’t easy. And I need time.
“I still have a job to do, I’m comfortable here and people respect my work. I want to stay here.”
CARLO ANCELOTTI
“I am a little surprised because Manchester United don’t normally do this.”
WHAT THEY SAID: THE FORMER PLAYERS
ROY KEANE: “players should be ashamed”
GARY NEVILLE: “players cost Moyes his job”
DWIGHT YORKE: “I think for togetherness and getting the results and playing a certain way, a brand of football that is more eye-catching, the Man United way, I feel that Ryan Giggs is the right person.”
BRYAN ROBSON: “When we’re talking about people like Vidic and Evra, for me they are at the peak of their careers. They’re not past it. That for me shows that the squad was still a pretty good one.”