Rio Ferdinand thinks Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should resign as Manchester United manager. The former England international is critical of the Norwegian trainer’s work at Old Trafford and believes he should keep the credit to himself. In the eyes of the analyst, the manager is not the right man to the Red Devils deliver prices. Former player Michael Owen is also very critical of Solskjaer.
Solskjaer has been under intense pressure for some time due to continued disappointing performance. In particular, the defeats at home against Liverpool (5-0) and against Manchester City (2-0) were hard. Under Solskjaer, United have not won a single trophy since he was hired as a permanent fixture in March 2019. Manchester United are already nine points behind leaders Chelsea after eleven Premier League matches this season.
Sky Sports reported Monday that United have no intention of firing Solskjaer. However, Ferdinand believes that his old team-mate, with whom he played at Old Trafford from 2002 to 2007, should resign himself. “We started this season with so much hope, but also the transfer window that we had, the excitement, we were all sitting there and thinking: this is our moment.”, says the club icon of United in his podcast FIVE. “Ole was brought in to get us to that point. He was brought in to get the squad in order, to get the players we could compete with for the trophies.”
“I don’t think we have a chance of winning the title in this competition,” Ferdinand continues. “I look at our team every week and wonder what we’re going to do tactically. I see no philosophy or identity in our way of playing. I look at the team in amazement. I was always a bit skeptical deep down, could he make us champions? I wasn’t quite convinced, I wasn’t sure he could.”
“With the squad he has and what I’ve seen so far, I feel like he should pass the baton to someone else,” Ferdinand said. “Ole can leave with his head held high because of where he has taken us since his appointment. He did what he had to do. He has given the fans hope again, made the fans want to come and see the team again. But is he going to get us titles? Will he make us another challenger in the Champions League? I have to be honest and I don’t think so.”
Former international Owen was also critical of Solskjaer’s United. “You look at Manchester United’s line-up and you don’t know which formation they are going to play in,” he says as an analyst at DAZN. “They buy a lot of players, all big names and the line-up is constantly changing. You have to be able to see beyond your nose and think: This is the way we are going to play. We are going to buy players for certain positions and we are executing that plan. Not that you think after conceding five goals against Liverpool: oh, the defense is worthless, let me add a defender. That’s ridiculous,” the analyst said.