He knew when he came in the squad was getting old and needed rebuilt, but spent the summer chasing Fabregas who he had no chance of signing and Everton Players. I also think although aging the team should still be good enough to challenge for Champions League football. They got beat by West Brom, Swansea, Sunderland ETC. He looked lost and had no plan B.
I heard there was a clause in his contract that he could be fired without Man U having to pay the full remainder of his contract, if he failed to qualify for the Champions League.