With Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's future at Old Trafford as perilous as it has ever been, Paul Merson asks how he hasn't been sacked after Sunday's "embarrassing" 5-0 defeat to Liverpool, before calling on Manchester United's players to provide some much-needed relief for their manager.
Sunday's humbling, humiliating defeat by Liverpool shook the foundations of Solskjaer's tenure at Manchester United to its very core and asked serious questions of his long-term suitability as manager.
Many expected the damaging result to spell the end of the Norwegian's three-year spell in the Old Trafford hot seat but Solskjaer remains, for now, and is tasked with arguably the greatest revival project of his managerial career.
In his latest Sky Sports column, Merson dismisses suggestions Solskjaer should have walked away from Manchester United in the wake of the loss to Liverpool but highlights glaring deficiencies which continue to hamper his reign, before calling on the players to start relieving the pressure on their beleaguered manager...
A defeat like no other
I have never seen a result like it before. Nothing compares to this result, nothing. I was embarrassed. It wasn't a good watch.
Manchester United versus Liverpool, the biggest game in the world, the biggest game in United's season, and they lost it by a country mile.
I don't like seeing any manager get the sack but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is very fortunate to still be in a job. He's as lucky as you can become as a manager.
I don't care what anybody says but if any other manager at any other club in Europe lost 5-0 at home to your biggest rivals, the manager is gone. If Chelsea or Arsenal lost 5-0 at home to Tottenham, the manager would do well to still be there on the Monday morning.
Manchester United have won just one Premier League game in five, that just isn't acceptable, and yet the manager has still got a job. I don't know what's going on at the club.
Solskjaer's Man Utd a soft-touch
The worrying thing is that after three years Solskjaer clearly doesn't know what his best team is.
They broke the bank to go and get a player for £70m in Jadon Sancho, he doesn't play. They've got a player in Paul Pogba, who they have sweated to keep, and he didn't start the biggest game of the season.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again - Manchester United are not a team, they are a group of individuals. They have let in 11 goals in the last three games, four at Leicester, two against Atalanta, and five at home to Liverpool. A team like Manchester United shouldn't be letting in that number of goals over a good chunk of the season, but that just shows where they are at the moment.
There is no shape or pattern, if United score a goal it's almost as if they stumbled over it and it came from nowhere. As Manchester City and Chelsea, and Liverpool in devastating fashion at Old Trafford on Sunday, have shown, they have got a plan.
Playing against Manchester United is too nice at the moment, that just shouldn't be the case. I played at Old Trafford a number of times and came off the field thinking we'd played well but having lost. Teams now are shocked if they lose! Every team has a chance when they go to Old Trafford.
Before United's recent demise all started, I watched the Newcastle game on Soccer Saturday and the game was in the balance. I remember telling Jeff Stelling it was a 'heads-or-tales game'. That was against a Newcastle side who are second bottom of the Premier League. The warning signs were there then.
Should Solskjaer walk?
People say Solskjaer should walk away from Manchester United. Come on, he's not going to walk away.
It's a once in a lifetime job, it'd like turning down the England job, something you just couldn't do. If you're the manager of the biggest club in the world you cannot walk away, this job will never come again.
I don't know Solskjaer personally, but you really felt for him on Sunday because you know he is a really nice man. When some managers lose like that it doesn't really mean anything, but Solskjaer just seems so nice.
Even after the game he fronted up, took responsibility for picking the team and you just thought he was amazing because a lot of other managers would have thrown their players under the bus.
Imagine if Manchester United had lost 5-0 under Sir Alex Ferguson or Mourinho in that manner, or if Liverpool had under Jurgen Klopp, all of those managers would have gone mad. It's all too nice at Manchester United, and that is handy for the players.
Time for players to repay Solskjaer's faith
In a way I feel sorry for Solskjaer. Yes, he picks the team, but it's these players who are getting beaten 5-0. They are hiding behind the manager.
I was fortunate to play in successful teams, and I've played in teams when we've struggled and haven't won things, I would like to think the Manchester United players have called a meeting between themselves, not with the manager.
Solskjaer has shown a lot of faith in a lot of players and they are letting him down - big time. That is probably the biggest shame of all.
The players need to call each other out and be honest with themselves over their performances. As a player you know when you walk off a pitch if you've left everything on it, you just know.
There are days when you come off having lost but can accept that it just wasn't your day. I lost 6-2 at home to Manchester United, Peter Schmeichel had an unbelievable game, losing is part of football.
But there are ways to lose football matches, and that performance from Manchester United on Sunday wasn't one of them.
vobdimostz
1
that's not luck, is sentimental from this British guys. Sir Ferguson please let the club be with Ur selfish intention. maybe this time u will bring a coach from national League to manage Man utd
MESSI
yoaabnorz
1
am a die hard Liverpool fan,of the 11 players on a football field,the goalkeeper knows the abilities and strengths of the players,so if Ole is finding it difficult to select a good team then let him consult De gear and Henderson
Paoalopsu
1
that's not luck, is sentimental from this British guys. Sir Ferguson please let the club be with Ur selfish intention. maybe this time u will bring a coach from national League to manage Man utd
ClemJay
0
Man Utd board is not really serious about the direction of the club. If they were, they would have done the needful. Barcelona has sacked koeman, so I don't get what man Utd is waiting for.
Jehdruz
0
Two persons are bad luck for MU one is Paul Pogba and the other is Oli Gunner since they came no trophy Let them go and the MU will compete for better
nemcdeior
0
how many games did arteta lose ? was he sacked, ole should continue with his project.
man u is not arsenal we are differ dont compare arsenal to United big man
rufulobr
0
Give Ole a break! At least till the reverse fixture at a packed Anfield, let him get his revenge!
Viwaikmoz
2
Alex Ferguson is keeping Solskjaer in a job
Phiri100james
0
He truly deserve a second chance....he's human too!
Poolsince1989
0
Then 0-5 win at OT was the boarder line.... Klopp had done a good decision hold back the scoring, keep Ole in place..
zehbdprsz
0
How many coaches are we going to get sacked? Leave Solskjaer alone he did none wrong only that they were playing a superior team. We are dishing a couple 5-0 this season no need to sack all those coaches for getting beat 5 nothing by Liverpool. We ain't done yet.
lomdnpstuz
0
OGS after hearing the news, Time to prove myself 🥲😄
BensonMuzik
0
won't be lucky For long....I don't still pray to win....I pray to loose all three matches
Coualsuy
2
how many games did arteta lose ? was he sacked, ole should continue with his project.
Wawabimn
0
Lots of MU Fans place their bet on Solskajer to be sack on Monday ,but he keep his job,but time is up for him to go As Jose Mourhino was sack after losing to Liverpool 3-1
thescouseghost
2
your lucky to have a job 💥
Wawabimn
1
Even Solskkaer can survive this weekend ,away to Atlanta and MC ,no way MU will win ,the best result Is grind to a drew ,Time for the managment to made the changes ,or else the fans will fade away in waves .
Bab-1997
0
The MANCHESTER BOARD when they were asked why they don’t sack OLE😀
Bolabest147
3
Who else remember this at old trashford.....
Nossy1990
0
drop Greenwood Maguire fred and Awb and play bailly sancho Vdb and Dalot
Deuadeps
0
Ux good news for all this clown 🤡 left for other 🎪
Nazbcdimou
1
Why is Man United still keep Solskjaer as manager?
Joe4
0
Ole use this against Tottenham
vickipounds
3
Liverpool played an important role in ole job had they scored up to 8 ole would have been sacked by now
pikacdrsuy
2
An honest comment from an Ex Gunner. Thumbs up!
TheChamp01
1
let me think you have share in the club to call us inhuman
If Man Utd board really care about their fans, they would do something about it. All other teams are mocking Man Utd now. The way Man Utd board do things, I can see that in 10 years time, Man Utd is going downwards. Some fans are fed up because of the board. This is just the beginning. They starting to lose fans if they don't do something about it.
cayaceklsz
1
Man Utd board people are inhuman. They don't care about fans. Yea, continue sticking with him mean you guys will lose more money. If not for Ronaldo come back to Man Utd, I'm sure less people buy their stuffs anymore.
let me think you have share in the club to call us inhuman
slgeek
4
Not only Solskjaer, Other big EPL teams lucky as well
UniversalGod
1
Official: Liverpool shooting Manchester United's Drama series name " How Manchester United manager Ole loved by their rival clubs and fans".
shittabay
0
Nothing like lucky Utd are just vision less
Seun_Millie
1
He better changes that formation!
lauadeopuy
0
GGMUFOREVER♥️❤️♥️
6
Fans to Board: Sack Ole Now!!! Board: Ole is not leaving now. Fans: Why are you keeping this 🤡 Board: Ole has been given 3 games to save his job. The next 3 games are against Tottenham, Atalanta and Manchester City 😂 Board: After these games comes our new coach....
YasrabCR7
0
To get ole sacked before Man City game this should be the scores Tottenham 3:0 Man United Atalanta 2:1 Man United These scores will be perfect😂 but in UCL Man United won't loose coz Ronaldo will fight back ..
you're absolutely right but I think in UCL against Atlanta MU will lose as Atlanta is a strong team and 2nd Atlanta will be in there home stadium
cayaceklsz
2
ooh OGS the greatest coach to give moo salah pride now forcing his move to Tottenham for playing Manu again and again I can't stop blushing
GGMUFOREVER♥️❤️♥️
1
[image]
Only untill the Atalanta game and out new coach will enter....
GGMUFOREVER♥️❤️♥️
2
Board has given him 3 more matches to save himself but first 2 games are away and the 3rd one is against Man City after these 3 fixtures he's sacked 100%
To get ole sacked before Man City game this should be the scores Tottenham 3:0 Man United Atalanta 2:1 Man United These scores will be perfect😂 but in UCL Man United won't loose coz Ronaldo will fight back ..
zedacdim
0
united don't want Liverpool to always be the team that dictates the sack of their managers... remember Mou? just wait till the A Spurs game ..it's all about that ONE game
ManUtdAmadDialo
5
Point of correction; It's not the players who has let this Norwegian clown down, but ity the Norwegian clown who has let his capable squad down
Mankin
0
Did Mourinho keep his Real job after loosing 0-5 to Pep’ Barca at home?
So we’re comparing Jose Mourinho to Ole Solskjaer now…? Better managers are afforded more chances when they make mistakes. Yes, current Mourinho isn’t a manager who deserves those kinds of chances but the one at Madrid was absolutely world class. How quickly people forget the past…
Mankin
1
Just gonna leave this here…
Lahclmst
1
Man Utd board people are inhuman. They don't care about fans. Yea, continue sticking with him mean you guys will lose more money. If not for Ronaldo come back to Man Utd, I'm sure less people buy their stuffs anymore.
And Ronaldo is purely a marketing tool nowadays as he is causing the ram imbalance. He can still scores some goals here and there individually but football is a team game. How many time he can scores to save the team??? Fred and Mctominay are the worst midfield pairing l have ever seen. Rubbish partnership but good for them to continues. Hope they keep all the clowns 🤡 and continue to rot !!
Lahclmst
1
He is the cheapest option available and no many out there want to manage MU right now. Of course they can have Lampard, another sacked legend !!
unitedmyfav
0
Did Mourinho keep his Real job after loosing 0-5 to Pep’ Barca at home?
mourinho didn't lose 5-0 at home when he was at real Madrid, get your facts right
Ufotson
1
Can't Blame them
YasrabCR7
1
Board has given him 3 more matches to save himself but first 2 games are away and the 3rd one is against Man City after these 3 fixtures he's sacked 100%
Seobmopty
0
Useless
la_joya112
1
The man knows he is going to be protected no matter what the result is
rezruz
0
Did Mourinho keep his Real job after loosing 0-5 to Pep’ Barca at home?
TheChamp01
2
Man Utd board people are inhuman. They don't care about fans. Yea, continue sticking with him mean you guys will lose more money. If not for Ronaldo come back to Man Utd, I'm sure less people buy their stuffs anymore.