Mourinho, Van Gaal and Solskjaer complaints highlight 'Goldilocks' problem at Manchester United

Being the manager of Manchester United hasn’t been an easy gig over the past nine years.

Ever since Sir Alex Ferguson retired at the end of the 2012-13 season, United’s post-Fergie hangover has lasted longer than most expected.

There was always going to be a decline whenever Ferguson left, such was his longevity, influence and unparalleled success at the club. Yet no one imagined it would last for nearly a decade.

Managers have come and gone in that decade: David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and now Ralf Rangnick, who is only set to remain until the end of the season

Throughout it all, it’s always been viewed as the United board picking the right coach at the wrong time. Either certain coaches were past their peak (Mourinho, Van Gaal) or not able to cope with the size of the job (Moyes, Solskjaer).

But criticism of the players hasn’t been anywhere near as vociferous.

Arsenal great Thierry Henry believes it’s time that all changes.

Speaking on CBS Sports in America during their coverage of the Champions League, Henry claimed too many of United’s players have got off criticism-free for too long.

“I don’t like usually to have a go at players but you had a teacher like Louis van Gaal, who is successful,” Henry said.

“They called Mourinho ‘dictator’ because he was too much into this, too much into that. He was too direct with the players. The players didn’t like it.

“Suddenly you have a friend. They like Solskjaer because he was more of a dad, a nice guy.”

Henry continued: “When is it going to be about the players? They have to deliver.

“I’m not a Man United fan but when you play for Man United you have to deliver regardless of who the coach is.

“It cannot always be the coach. I’m sorry those