POOR UNITED ARE OUT OF CHARACTER
EDWIN VAN DER SAR claims Manchester United are struggling because they have no strong characters in their team now.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are languishing in 12th having made their worst start to a Premier League campaign.
Van der Sar, who won four titles and one Champions League in his six years as a United keeper, remembers a squad full of big personalities and leaders when he joined in 2005.
The Dutchman said: “In the dressing room you had Ryan Giggs, you had Paul Scholes, you had Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville and even Roy Keane at that time.
“So there always had been strong characters and, for the last couple of years, the strong characters have disappeared. They can’t make a difference anymore.”
Van der Sar is now chief executive at Ajax and warns it will take time for United’s new signings to make an impact.
He said: “Of course it’s difficult. I left eight years ago and it was a tremendous last six years of my career, winning four Premier League titles and playing in three Champions League finals.
“So it’s a long way from the position where they are now. And of course they have changed managers a couple times. The real progress isn’t seen yet.
“They bought younger, inexperienced players with a certain desire and hunger, and not like the big names they bought in the last six, seven years.”
Van der Sar, 48, feels the decline since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 makes it harder for United to attract the best because elite players want to win big prizes.
He said: “Of course, the name is still there, and, of course, the following they have all over the world.
“But for a player, you want to play at a certain level and you want an idea you can win trophies.
“The club must take that opportunity also to improve the squad and make the world-class players they have, or are going to sign, feel there’s a good path to where they’re going to go.”