We're at the bottom of the mountain and there's a massive climb to get up

LEGENDS HAVE LITTLE FAITH IN UNITED REVIVAL

- by DAVID MCDONNELL

MANCHESTER UNITED legends Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt have delivered a damning verdict on their former club’s chances of getting back to the top any time soon.

United are down in 13th place in the Premier League, with the Europa League their only hope of salvaging the club's worst season of modern times.

More than £1bn has been squandered on players in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, with United further away than ever before from competing for the title.

United endured a 26-year wait for the title until Ferguson won the first of his 13 Premier League crowns in 1993, with Giggs (far inset) and Butt fearing a similarly long spell.

Butt (near inset) branded United's season a "disaster", while Giggs said consistently poor decisions over the past decade have led to the club being at its lowest ebb.

"Over recent years, United has looked like it's a plaster on a gaping wound," said Butt. "It doesn't work.