Ex-Man Utd ace Javier Hernandez says club MUST get over Sir Alex Ferguson for Erik ten Hag to succeed in stopping spiral

JAVIER HERNANDEZ says Manchester United need to get over Sir Alex Ferguson if they are ever going to snap out of their downward spiral.

Chicharito, 34, revealed that he was not surprised by United's slump post-Fergie but says despite his genius they need to break from the past to allow new man Erik ten Hag to succeed.

The Red Devils lost to Brighton in Ten Hag's first game in charge, while they have also been calling Sir Alex in to try and keep wantaway star man Cristiano Ronaldo at Old Trafford this summer.

United have not won the title since Ferguson, 80, retired in 2013 - but the Scot is still an ever present at the Theatre of Dreams.

Asked about United's desperate decline, Hernandez said: “It doesn't surprise me because in life it’s not easy having a manager for 26 years in the way that Sir Alex did it.

“To substitute that man like that is not easy.

“It is like winning the lottery. Do you think anyone you hire afterwards is going to be able to do 80 per cent of what Ferguson did?

“My point of view is that after Ferguson brings so much pressure that it just isn’t going to work out.

“United need to now get over the fact that Sir Alex Ferguson has gone.

“Would we like to have someone similar? Yes, yes, yes. But Sir Alex has gone and it is never going to be the same.

FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS - BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS

“So United have to adapt and allow the next manager to do it in his own way."

Regardless of their current struggles, the ex-Real Madrid man says he'd play for nothing if ever asked back to Old Trafford.

Hernandez said: “Man, I mean, there are these situations and I know the narratives because of my age and my past.

“If United came for me then I’d say ‘yes, I’ll play for free.’ Of course, you know, I’d do that.

“But I also want to be very respectful to my club. I am playing very consistently and in my mind and my world, my conviction is all about winning a championship with LA Galaxy."

Hernandez, who bagged 59 goals and two Premier League titles with Manchester United, is now skipper at Galaxy and will tonight captain the MLS All Star team as they take on a side from his home country made up of the brightest talent in Mexico's Liga MX.

The MLS All Star clash is taking place in Minneapolis, Minnesota and will be a special moment for the forward.

He said: “It's a little bit surreal but, I mean, it's cool and it's great.

“I'm very grateful, very humbled to be in this event, to be chosen by a lot of fans, managers and staff, then obviously being the captain it's amazing."

The MLS All Star side also includes former Newcastle and Tottenham man DeAndre Yedlin as well as ex-Arsenal forward Carlos Vela.