“Things aren’t going well so maybe there needs to be a change to improve things.”
Rio Ferdinand has doubled down on his previous comments that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should be sacked by Manchester United.
United have lost four of their opening 11 Premier League fixtures and currently sit in sixth position – nine points off league-leaders Chelsea.
Ferdinand has been critical of Solskjaer in recent months, questioning him following the defeat to Young Boys in the Champions League in September, as well as the club’s decision to reward Phil Jones with a new contract.
The former United and England defender said that it might be time for the Norwegian to leave Old Trafford, adding he “would leave with his head held high”.
A number of people disagreed with the 43-year-old’s opinion – including former team-mate Gary Neville – however, Ferdinand has reiterated that he believes Solskjaer should be sacked.
"I'm not saying I'm enjoying saying a manager should lose his job."
"Things aren't going well so maybe there needs to be a change to improve things."
An open and honest @rioferdy5 on Ole Gunnar Solskjær's Man Utd position… pic.twitter.com/SxwaqHbVXb
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 20, 2021
Speaking on BT Sport, Ferdinand was asked how ‘difficult’ it was to call for the Norwegian’s sacking, but the ex-United man admitted that he didn’t find it difficult at all.
He said: “It wasn’t, if I’m honest. I’ve seen some people and friends of mine saying it’s difficult, ‘you can’t do that’.
“We’re all quick to talk about players, ‘oh players should be out of the window, ‘he should never wear the shirt again’ I hear people say.
“It’s got to be the same with the managers, I’m not sitting here saying I’m enjoying saying a manager should his job, I’m just saying things aren’t going well, so maybe there needs to be a change if you want things to improve.
“That’s just an honest assessment of it and that’s what I’m paid to do, give an honest assessment whether it’s friends, former teammates or people I don’t know, treat them all the same.”
Ferdinand was then asked why other former Red Devils players have not called for the United manager to be sacked.
He added: “I don’t know, everyone deals with situations differently and I think you’ve got to respect that, I respect that other people have different ways of doing things and that their opinions and approach to this situation is different, but that’s life, in all walks of life that’s the same.
“I see it the way I see it and I’ll stand by that, I’m very comfortable and confident saying what I say.”
Man Utd travel to Watford on Saturday, hoping to bounce back from the dissipating Derby defeat to Manchester City before the international break.
Related links:
- Gary Neville responds as Rio Ferdinand calls for Solskjaer sacking
- Rio Ferdinand’s tweets reflect the four stages of every United fan watching the Manchester derby
- Rio Ferdinand compares Ruben Loftus-Cheek to Yaya Toure
