Robin van Persie believes Manchester United lost their way when Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down as manager and claims the club have ‘gambled’ on signing the likes of Paul Pogba and Alexis Sanchez while Jurgen Klopp has been allowed to build a successful ‘sporting project’ at Liverpool.
The iconic Dutchman played a crucial role in the last United side to lift the Premier League trophy back in 2012/13 and completed a memorable first-half hat-trick against Aston Villa to secure the title in front of a rapturous Old Trafford crowd.
He finished as top scorer with 26 goals that season and no United player has even got close to that tally in the years that have followed under David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho or Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
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United’s issues up front have seen them linked with a number of superstar forwards in recent weeks, such as Harry Kane, Jadon Sancho and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, with Solskjaer looking to ease the pressure on Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.
However, Van Persie has warned United over quick fixes and ‘risky’ big-name signings and hopes Solskjaer is given time to develop his own ‘philosophy’ in the way that Klopp has on Merseyside.
Asked about United’s struggles since Ferguson’s departure, Van Persie told SoFoot: ‘If you compare it to Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp was appointed and players were selected who fit in with the football philosophy, not from marketing motives.
‘They built the club on a coach’s sporting project. At Manchester United they gamble on star names like Paul Pogba and Alexis Sanchez.
‘That’s one way. It is risky. If such a player gets injured or does not fit, the whole team is vulnerable. While having a philosophy like Liverpool and not Manchester United creates enormous collective power.
‘The challenge for Manchester United is to see if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can successfully establish a philosophy of his own.’
The former Netherlands attacker added: ‘Every player should aim for an environment that pushes you to the maximum.
‘At Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson, there was an incredible daily urge to act.
‘To go to Manchester United was like breaking through the glass ceiling, to make certain things possible.
‘If United want to recover, they must give Solskjaer time and a real chance.
‘Right now, Liverpool and Manchester City are one or two steps ahead of United. Why? Because they have built up a collective feeling that they want to go somewhere.’
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