Wednesday 24 February 2016 07:18, UK
David Beckham says it was "inevitable" Manchester United would encounter a slump following the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson.
United won 38 trophies during Ferguson's 26 years in charge at the club but have only won the Community Shield under David Moyes since his departure in 2013.
Louis van Gaal secured a return to the Champions League last season but United were knocked out at the group stage this campaign and are now facing a struggle to finish in the top four, while their hopes of progressing in the Europa League are under threat following a first-leg 2-1 defeat to FC Midtjylland.
However, Beckham thinks such a trophy drought was always a possibility following the departure of Ferguson, chief executive David Gill, as well as key players such as Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and current assistant Ryan Giggs.
The 40-year-old told talkSPORT: "As a Man United fan, I always hoped we wouldn't go through a slump, but it was inevitable. When the manager left that was always going to be a massive thing, but you also lost players like Keaney, like Scholesy - and Giggsy has stopped playing.
"You have lost such great characters through the team. And David Gill stepped away from Manchester United. They are all integral parts of the club.
"We have had so much success over the last twenty years that if we don't win something for one season or two seasons people talk about it being a crisis.
"Man United is Man United. It doesn't matter if you love them or hate them, they are one of the biggest, if not the biggest, club in the world and you have to keep that reputation. The only way you can keep that reputation is by winning trophies."
