Gary Neville: Nobody expected Man Utd to sink so low and so soon
Gary Neville has conceded that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is under “massive, massive pressure” following Manchester United’s 2-0 defeat to Man City but insisted the United boss is unlikely to be sacked mid-season.
United suffered their fourth defeat in six in the Premier League as they lost 2-0 a home to Manchester City, registering just a single shot on goal
“I can’t look at myself and say this is the way I want Manchester United to play,” said Solskjaer afterwards.
After a relatively stabilising week United beat Spurs 3-0 and grabbed a last-minute 2-2 draw with Atalanta – they were back in the doldrums with just one shot on target and four touches in City’s box.
“Ole is under massive, massive pressure but the first thing that has to happen is that he needs a team with courage,” said Neville.
“Up to the end of last season, the feeling here [at Old Trafford] was that there was progression because they finished second in the league. Everyone then thought that they got their recruitment right in the summer.
“So the club has not planned for this. I know there are some United fans who think the club should have acted two weeks ago because Antonio Conte was available but this club was never going to appoint Conte and they are not prepared for this moment because they have the plan behind Ole.
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“I don’t think there is any chance there will a decision [on the manager] during this season unless it gets so bad and it is getting to the point where it is so bad. They are 11 points off the top of the league if Chelsea win today and this United squad should not be 11 points off the top. Nobody has expected this. Nobody would have expected United would sink so low at this point in the season.”I think he has a few weeks to sort it out.”
Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane pulled no punches after the performance, singling out Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, Eric Bailly, Fred and Aaron Wan-Bissaka for criticism.