Harry Redknapp Says Sir Alex Ferguson Would Struggle with Louis Van Gaal's Squad

Harry Redknapp believes even Sir Alex Ferguson would struggle to win the Premier League title with the current Manchester United squad. Redknapp stressed today's United team, managed by Louis van Gaal, lacks the quality to successfully negotiate a title race.  

Redknapp insists not even Ferguson could work that miracle, according to Luke Gardener of the Daily Star: "The simple truth is that Ferguson – one of the greatest managers – would not be walking away with the title with this squad."

Jon Super/Associated Press

Comparing the current crop to those Ferguson won so many major trophies with, Redknapp doesn't believe a single one of Van Gaal's players would get into those sides: "Without being disrespectful, I do not think any of the current United players would get into those Ferguson teams and that should tell you everything about what Van Gaal is working with now."

Redknapp is convinced the problem lies with the paucity of top-tier talent available in today's game: "As David Moyes found out, and Van Gaal is discovering, those players simply are not around anymore. They are undoubtedly a top-four team but nowhere near good enough to run away with the league."

These are curious and loaded claims from Redknapp.

For one thing, if the current United squad isn't good enough to win a league title, it's because of what Ferguson left for his successors—or more specifically, what he didn't leave.

It was on Ferguson's watch that United's squad deteriorated in key areas. The group deteriorated because instead of refreshing an ageing defence and finally finding a dominant talisman for central midfield, Ferguson took a short-term view.

He signed a 29-year-old, injury prone Robin van Persie, putting one last league crown above renewing United's foundation for sustained success. That title, won during the 2012/13 season, was United's last hurrah and masked the scale of the rebuild needed.

Scott Heppell/Associated Press

So when Ferguson did step down, Moyes faced more problems than he realised. With the Scot unable to fix those problems, they were still there for Van Gaal to inherit.

One more dubious thing about Redknapp's claims is how there aren't enough top players available to help the Dutchman succeed.

Maybe it's more that there are quality players who can revive United, but Van Gaal just hasn't been signing them. Instead, he's been buying the wrong players.

The punt on Angel Di Maria turned into an expensive, one-year blunder. Now, £31 million man Memphis Depay is struggling to adapt to life at Old Trafford.

Rui Vieira/Associated Press

If Van Gaal cannot win a title with the current squad, it's because he hasn't spent the Red Devils' vast budget too smartly. By the same token, if Ferguson couldn't win with this bunch, he should have kept a keener eye on the club's future.