'GULF IS EMBARRASSING'
Man Utd must sack Solskjaer to improve as it’s at the stage where their rivals want him to stay, says Danny Murphy
MANCHESTER UNITED need to sack Ole Gunnar Solskjaer if they want to improve, according to Danny Murphy.
The former Liverpool midfielder said the fact rival fans want the Norwegian to stay confirms it's time for him to go.
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The Norwegian led United to their sixth defeat in 12 games on Saturday as they slumped 2-0 at home to bitter rivals Manchester City.
And the Red Devils have won just four times in that period, with calls for Solskjaer to go growing louder and louder.
City fans taunted the 48-year-old at Old Trafford by singing 'Ole, give us a wave' and 'Ole's at the wheel'.
And Murphy thinks such humiliation proves it's time for the United icon to go.
The former Liverpool midfielder told the : "It has got to the stage now, sadly, where opposing fans see Solskjaer as their secret weapon.
"They want him to stay more than United supporters.
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"This game was seen by some as Solskjaer’s last chance to reassert his authority at United and salvage his job as the pressure builds upon him.
"But it only served to emphasise the yawning chasm that exists between these two teams.
"City are in a different league from this United side. They may only have won 2-0 but the gulf in class was embarrassing.
"United will not win the title this season. That much is crystal clear but the question remains whether the United hierarchy have the appetite or the ambition to do anything about it."
Murphy acknowledged United have improved under Solskjaer and reckons the United hierarchy have to take some responsibility for the team's form.
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But the 44-year-old also suspects the best candidate to replace him has just been snapped up.
He added: "Solskjaer has done a fine job rebuilding United after the damage and division inflicted on them by Jose Mourinho.
"But it has been evident this season — particularly after United’s outgoing executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward chose to sign [Cristiano] Ronaldo rather than the central defensive midfielder who might have given United a chance of challenging — that Solskjaer has taken this team as far as he can.
"United went for clicks, not trophies. They went for shirt sales, not trophies. They went for social media engagement, not trophies.
"And now, as many predicted, Solskjaer is paying the price for their warped priorities.
"When the final whistle went, boos rang around Old Trafford.
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"If Daniel Levy were in charge here, that would be enough to prompt a change of manager.
"But Solskjaer’s salvation may lie in the fact that United have dithered for so long over his position that Tottenham have stolen away Antonio Conte, who was, by a distance, the best available replacement."
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