After an uneventful Manchester Derby that ended in a 0-0 draw, Manchester United now have only scored 1 goal from open play in the Premier League at Old Trafford this season. The Red Devils have played 6 games at Old Trafford, winning only 1 so far whilst drawing two and losing three.
Manchester United also got knocked out of the Champions League earlier this week, suffering a 3-2 loss to RB Leipzig. Solskjaer has been under the firing line for United’s failure to not progress to the knockouts of the Champions League.
Solskjaer has been under criticism for not being able to replicate the away form that United are in at home. Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville spoke of a lack of identity from Manchester United and also noted what Solskjaer should do to change things at the club.
“I think Ole has to start dominating games. In the last 12 months, where Manchester United have won games it has been through two forms of tactics. It’s either been counter-attack or it has been in moments – Southampton and West Ham, in recent weeks. They aren’t what you would really call performances, driving the other team into the ground. They are playing in moments.”
“In the next six to eight months, they have to dominate matches and dominate big games. That will be the determining factor for Ole,” added Neville.
“They have to start playing as a team and perform. Today was ‘OK’, but it’s not a tactic for Manchester United to win football matches in the long-term or to win titles. All the teams who win titles dominate football matches – dominating possession, being on the front foot and winning big matches. Ole hasn’t got Manchester United there yet and he’s been in the job two years.
The former Manchester United player also claimed that Solskjaer needs to start picking up results in order stay in the job.
“He’s got a big seven months to deliver (results) that. If he doesn’t, he will be in trouble.”
Neville also added that Manchester United’s performances have not been up to the mark and they must change for the club to progress.
“Last season was massive, finishing third. That was a big, big moment for him. But now he has to got closer to City and Liverpool and dominate matches. I don’t see it at this moment in time. The performances I am seeing are not anywhere near good enough.
“We know him – he won’t think they are anywhere near good enough, he won’t think that first-half performance at West Ham was anywhere near the standard that will get Manchester United to a title. They’re not, they are nowhere near.”
Roy Keane on the other hand highlighted the importance of Solskjaer winning a trophy this season.
“I think he has got to get his hands on a trophy. There’s an obsession about getting in the top four, but l think Manchester United should be automatically doing that.”
“I think by the end of the season Ole will have been in the job long enough to say do we think he is the man to get Manchester United back to challenging for titles. I still think they are behind Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea. But get your hands on some trophies,” added Keane.
