Man Utd legend says club 'cheated' by greedy players who are responsible for lack of success

Manchester United have been “cheated” over the fees and salaries they have paid players in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, according to an Old Trafford legend.

United have spent in excess of £1.5billion on players and paid exorbitant wages since Ferguson stepped down in 2013 after landing the club's last Premier League title. Since then, United have failed to challenge for the Premier League and ended last season in 15th place, their worst finish since they were relegated in the 1973/74 campaign.

Former United defender Nemanja Vidic reckons his old club have been held to ransom by players who do not have the character to succeed there – but were only too happy to take the money.

Asked if envisaged United not winning the Premier League for 12 years, Vidic said: “No chance. My feeling is that Sir Alex Ferguson left but so did David Gill as well – that’s two big personalities who had been with the club for 25-years.

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“They’re difficult to replace and Ed Woodward taking that position, I think was above his knowledge and his capability – that’s my opinion. Obviously, he did fantastic for the club in terms of the marketing and bringing money in, but dealing with agents and players, that role needs someone with experience.

“Even having some ex-footballers around to understand how the players think and how the agent thinks [would have helped]. At the time, the club didn’t help themselves in terms of not bringing in the knowledge of ex-players like Gary Neville, Paul Scholes, or Ryan Giggs – someone who has experienced talking with agents.

“I think sometimes with the salaries and the money we’ve paid to certain players, we’ve been cheated. That for me is the problem. Recruitment is the biggest thing, bringing in good football players, coaches, medical staff, and I think that they should be careful with what kind of people they bring into certain places.

“To be at Manchester United you have to be one of the best in the market, and you have to invest in that – maybe even more than in the players and I think that we haven’t done that well.

“It’s difficult to be at United now, to be a football player or the owner – whatever you do, it’s difficult so if you want to change the club, the club has to bring in the characters. If the characters aren’t in the club, it is difficult, and you will go through this situation.

“If you bring in people who are going to be nice, smiling, and saying things that you want to hear, I don’t think that’s the way forward. You need people who will take responsibility and be strong enough to say the things they see, even if they have to deal with the consequences.”

Vidic, who took his coaching badges while playing for United but who has so far resisted the lure of returning to work in football, claimed players have too much power these days, which makes it even harder for managers.

“Football players have too much power and because of the money involved, the owner respects the opinion of an agent and player more than the manager,” said Vidic. “That’s the issue we have now. If you have a strong character and personality and have a conflict with a player now, I think the coach will be the one to leave the club.

“This is the era of a new generation of a manager who needs to be careful with how they talk to players – to be a psychologist. You cannot treat all players the same, or owners, and fans. Sir Alex Ferguson was great at this, but it’s even more difficult now.”

Nemana Vidic was speaking on The Overlap, brought to you by Sky Bet

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