Manchester United are in a rebuilding job and manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs another two years to restore them back towards the top, believes club legend Paul Scholes.
The Red Devils are enduring a miserable season so far that has been encapsulated by mid-table mediocrity. Solskjaer's side are ninth in the Premier League on 18 points - a whopping 22 behind bitter rivals and table-toppers Liverpool.
Pressure on the under-fire Norwegian is mounting as United continue to make their worst start in the top flight since 1988-89. That season they finished 11th.
Out-of-work Mauricio Pochettino has been a managerial target of the Old Trafford hierarchy in the past, but Scholes hopes former team-mate Solskjaer is given time to implement his ideas and sign his desired players.
'They've had three managers now before Ole's come in and they've got to stick with someone, they have to,' he told Sky Sports. 'They have to give him the time, three or four transfer windows I think they need.
'About two or three weeks ago they were playing really well, playing good football and you think "Maybe they're not too far away".
'And then they have a spell again, a couple of injuries, a couple of big injuries and you're thinking again "They need three or four transfer windows".
'Hopefully Ole's the man to get the time and money to spend.'
But while Scholes is supportive of Solskjaer he has warned the 46-year-old that United needs to start delivering results to prove that he is progressing the team.
'There won't be an acceptance from the fans, Ole, his staff or people at the club,' he continued. 'They know it's not good enough.
'If Ole's going to build he needs to get results along the way. You can't be dropping points every game and finishing 10th in the league. He needs to show progression in his team.'
Solskjaer will be hoping that begins on Wednesday when they host Tottenham and his predecessor Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford before travelling to local rivals Manchester City just four days later.
DGGaulle
868
Ole feels he can use academy players to turn things round. U lie. Premier league has a lot of pressure and u need world class to turn things round.. Go meet pep and klopp to tell u more. U aint gonna win anything baby coach with baby players
CR7nly
526
man United are somewhat ok with defence. the problem is they need a good midfield. since pogba didn't play for weeks. I think Manchester United had problems. so if he comes back we will get to know.
toycikmrsz
433
Investing on this inexperienced man is Just a waist of money, he could turn things around for good but it might take years and Man U might not be attracted to world class players. Modern Football involved pressure from Fans, Board and players. Even almighty Guadiola feeling the heat in his first season and this season.
Profnick
237
I see comments from Liverpool, City, Madrid, Portugal fans😂😂 who think they know better than us the fans of the biggest club in the world. first get some football education then comment. we have a midfield struck by injuries, name one team in the world that can create or defend without a strong midfield... secondly, we lack squad depth and the players we want are either too expensive (e.g. koulibaly) or not willing to join us (e.g Dybala, Rabiot, Rodri) thirdly, Jose was given 5 transfer windows, Van Gaal 4 where are the fruits? where is the depth of the squad? and finally Ole won 12 matches on the bounce, this was because he had all the best players in the club readily available and fit, once Herrera got injured problems started, then it was Lingard, then Pogbas suspension and others followed with injuries, results dipped. no level of tactics can replace class and quality, Man City now has a leaky defence why? LaPorte is injured, Liverpool are failing to keep a clean sheet, why? Matip is injured. if Ole was a tactical flop, explain how he is to date the only manager in the EPL to secure a point against Liverpool? Explain why he was the first manager able to beat high flyers Leicester City and keep a clean sheet stopping current top goalscorer Jamie Vardy in the process. explain how he beat Frank Lampard twice and held of Arsenal... when you are done reply