Speaking in light of Manchester United‘s latest humiliation, Sunderland defender John O’Shea has expressed his surprise at his former club’s decline.
The Irish defender was in action for the Black Cats on Saturday as they inflicted more misery on Louis van Gaal’s strugglers.
Despite something of a recent revival, with wins over Derby County and Stoke City followed by a draw with Chelsea, United came unstuck when they were defeated 2-1 by Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
The defeat leaves United six points off the top four and rivals Manchester City, although it could have been worse had the Citizens not fallen to a home defeat against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
O’Shea left Old Trafford in 2011, having just won the Premier League and reached the Champions League final with the Red Devils, and has expressed his surprise at his former club’s decline.
As things stand, it looks highly unlikely that United will return to the Champions League, an achievement which should be the minimum target, according to O’Shea.
“Yes, that is the given when you look at the squads, budgets and what is spent to get into it,” the defender began, as per The Sun.
“The top clubs spend big to get there because that is where the rewards are and that is what attracts bigger and better players.
“That’s the challenge they have.”
It seems as though United’s hierarchy agree with O’Shea, with rumours intensifying on Sunday that the club were prepared to dispatch van Gaal and replace him with recently axed Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.
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