Manchester United fans are not a very happy lot for the sole reason of the exit of one of their reliable defending midfielder Ander Herrera who is leaving the club for PSG after United failed to meet his wage demands.
The Spain star made his news of leaving last week on a message that was posted on his Twitter account but a meeting that was meant to give the departing members a chance to say goodbye to their friends was cancelled in the late minutes after losing to Cardiff in the last match of the season.
The Spanish star has warned Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer he faces a “tough job” trying to revive the fallen giants. United finished the season sixth, 32 points behind champions Manchester City, unlike last season where they finished second 19 points adrift the leading and champions Manchester City at the time, drawing at relegated Huddersfield and losing 2-0 at home to Cardiff who also went down in their final two games.
Against that backdrop, Herrera, who has left United as a free agent after they refused to meet his £300,000-a-week wage demands, said his old club face a bleak future in the coming years.
“I really believe in Ole, but I think there’s a tough job ahead,” said Herrera. “That’s my opinion as a fan and as someone who knows the club at the moment.
“These fans are the best, they’re amazing, but they need time. They need time because this is not going to be from the first day. The club will need time, confidence and support.
“I’m sure they’ll give it, but the only thing I ask for them is time because this is not easy.“That’s what this club needs at the moment.”
Herrera admitted United’s players under-performed this season and must take responsibility for such an abject campaign, made worse by their two biggest rivals, City and Liverpool, setting a formidable new standard in the Premier League, with 98 and 97 points respectively.
“We have to take responsibility, all of us,” said Herrera. “It’s not fair to blame others. When you have a bad season, 75 per cent is the responsibility of the players.“Every one of us has to take responsibility for what we’ve done wrong.
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“It’s very easy, when a manager is sacked, to blame someone else, but it’s the fault of every one of us.“Every player in the dressing-room has a responsibility for what has happened this season. We have done bad things.
“We’ve done some good things but, for Manchester United, it’s not enough. Probably 14 teams, if they’re sixth, they’re happy, but Manchester United cannot be happy.
“If we’re speaking about this last season, I have huge respect for Jose. He tried everything. The first season with him was quite successful.
“Then we were second and we had a lot of expectation for this season, but it didn’t work. Not only because of him because I repeat, but every player also has responsibility.
United’s title drought now stands at six years, but Herrera does not think it will extend to 30 years like their arch-rivals Liverpool, despite the huge job facing Solskjaer.
“I’m convinced it’s not going to be that long because the right person is at the wheel,” said Herrera.“Ole’s the right person, so I’m convinced it’s not going to take 30 years, that’s for sure.
“I hope I’m wrong and Manchester United win the next Premier League, but the club needs time to work. “Ole is one of the best people I’ve ever met in football. Everyone loves him in the dressing- room. Everyone wants to fight for him.
“When you have the players behind you and want to fight for you, part of the job is done.
“I believe in karma and if you’re a good person, if you’re honest and sincere with the players and the fans, sooner or later it will work.“I think Ole is the right person because he has qualities and knowledge, but also he’s a great man and a great person.”