Rio Ferdinand: Man Utd sacking Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would be wrong, they always knew he needed time

Under pressure: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Action Images via Reuters
Alex Young @alexwsyoung12 October 2019

Rio Ferdinand says Manchester United always expected Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to need time to reshape the squad and sacking him would be a "naive" move.

United have endured their worst start to a season in Premier League history, a dire record dating back 30 years, after just two wins in the league this season.

Ferdinand was a vocal advocate of Solskjaer getting the permanent job after impressing during his interim spell in charge.

While working as a pundit on BT Sport for United's comeback win against PSG, Ferdinand said: "Get the contract out, put it on the table, let him sign it.

"Let him put whatever numbers he wants to put on there given what he's done now since he's come in and let him sign the contract. Ole's at the wheel. Man Utd are back!"

The memorable night in Paris in March was Solskjaer's 14th win in his 17 game. He has overseen just six wins from 23 games since and Ferdinand wants to see his former team-mate given time to improve the ailing form.

"There's no way the club would have thought this would be rosy straight away, they're not naive enough to think that it was going to be a situation where he just changes it overnight," he told talkSPORT.

"This is definitely something where there is going to be early pain, there is going to be a situation where the results are not going to go our way, especially with the new recruitment that they've started to go with younger players.

"That's why I don't see there being a change straight away, I'd be very surprised if I wake up, open a paper or an app and see that he has gone so quickly."

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