Hernandez not surprised by Manchester United’s struggles since Ferguson retired

Javier Hernandez says he is not surprised by Manchester United’s lack of Premier League success in recent years as he prepares to face his former club this weekend.

The 29-year-old joined West Ham from Bayer Leverkusen this summer, two years after he left United for the Bundesliga side.

The luck of the Premier League fixture list means he is set to make his Hammers debut at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Since Ferguson left his post, United have had four managers: David Moyes, Ryan Giggs, Louis van Gaal and now Jose Mourinho.

But that success of 2013 remains the last time the Red Devils won the league and they have finished outside the top four in three of the past four seasons.

That does not come as a surprise to Hernandez, however, as the Mexico international always felt Ferguson’s departure would have a knock-on effect.

“The change of Sir Alex retiring, we knew it was going to be very difficult. He was unique in (the) history of football,” he said.

“We all knew there was going to be a transition. You cannot have a manager for 26 years – the best manager in history, achieving everything, changing the squad every couple of years, changing players, even all the staff sometimes, there was always going to be a transition.”

Hernandez hit 59 goals for United having been signed as a relative unknown from home-town club Guadalajara in 2010.

Hernandez is now set to return to Manchester with his new side and admits it will be an emotional time – and that he has a decision to make over whether to celebrate if he hits a debut goal for West Ham.

“It’s going to be emotional, of course, to be in my old house against my old club,” he added.

“With my new team, my new chapter. I want to do as best as I can. It’s an important moment for me. I don’t know if I will celebrate if I score at Old Trafford.

“It’s my old club, my old fans, my old stadium but it’ll be my first goal for West Ham. I am not thinking about the celebration, I just want to have the chance to start and get my team the result.

“I am very happy and glad, it’s the best way to come back and open at Old Trafford. I am a Hammer, a West Ham player. I want to do even better than I did in Manchester.”