Jorge Mendes: Agent 'misses' Sir Alex Ferguson amid Manchester United and Radamel Falcao struggle

Football agent Jorge Mendes says he misses Sir Alex Ferguson as he believes Manchester United and Radamel Falcao would be in a very different situation if the Scottish manager was still in charge at Old Trafford.

United are fifth in the Premier League – although with a game in hand over fourth-place Arsenal – while, having been knocked out of the League Cup earlier in the season, their only chance to secure silverware this season will come via the FA Cup.

Current United manager Louis van Gaal is failing so far to improve on David Moyes' nightmare spell at Old Trafford and he has recently been criticised for his long-ball tactics.

Van Gaal has also been questioned for failing to get the best out of some members of the squad, including Radamel Falcao and Angel Di Maria, after the club went on a spending spree last summer to bring them to Old Trafford.

The Colombia international has only scored four Premier League goals in 15 appearances, while record signing Di Maria has only netted three.

Mendes has suggested Van Gaal is to blame for United's struggles even though he refuses to name the Dutch boss.

"Falcao is a champion. At Manchester, I miss Ferguson because he is Manchester United and he has given a lot to this club. With Ferguson and this same squad the situation would be different," Mendes said during an interview with ESPN.

"I feel sorry with myself because I know Falcao and I know that if he is handed five consecutive full games, I am convinced he will score in almost every game. Because he is very good. Recently he was being the best player of the match and after 70 minutes... there are things I don't want to discuss further."

Mendes refused to confirm whether Falcao will remain at Old Trafford next season.

He said: "But Falcao will find his way. If next season he doesn't stay at Manchester, he will be in one of the top five or six best teams in the world."

Meanwhile, the Portuguese super agent played down any concerns about Di Maria's future at Old Trafford claiming he is happy in the Premier League despite his inconsistent season.

Mendes said: "He was at Real Madrid and as Falcao, he is one of the best footballers around the world. He wanted to join Manchester. He was in a big club and not he is in another of the best clubs in the world. He is happy and that's it."