It is an "insult" to say I left an ageing Manchester United squad, says Sir Alex Ferguson

Recent photograph of Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford: Sir Alex denies leaving behind an ageing squad

Sir Alex Ferguson has taken umbrage at the suggestion that he left his Manchester United successor, David Moyes, in a difficult situation by giving him a poor, ageing squad when he retired at the end of the 2012/13 season.

“That’s an insult. We’d just won the title by 11 points,” said Ferguson, talking at a live event in London to promote the new paperback version of his latest autobiography.

"We’d left young players there - Jones, Smalling, Welbeck. There were other players there - Van Persie, Vidic, Carrick and so on. Good players. [Chelsea striker Didier] Drogba is 36 and he scored at Old Trafford today. Van Persie is 32. My best signing was Carrington. The facilities there are first class.”

Louis van Gaal definitely the right man

The 72-year old Scotsman, who is United’s most successful manager, having won a colossal 38 trophies in his 26 years at the club, added that Louis van Gaal is the right man for the club after the torrid time that they endured under Moyes last season but felt that injuries are currently holding the team back.

“You can’t get consistency or results until you get a regular back four,“ he said. “Shaw and Rojo are young, Rafael is the only player with experience.

“Absolutely [Van Gaal is the right man]. No doubt in my mind he’s the right man for the job‎.”

Actor and United fan James Nesbitt, who was asking the questions, couldn’t however summon the courage to ask Ferguson about his thoughts on Roy Keane’s new book, where he has slammed his former manager without pulling any punches on various counts.