London - Rio Ferdinand has called for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to hand over the Manchester United manager's "baton" after a string of damaging results left the club well off the pace in the Premier League.
The Norwegian boss is under intense pressure after a 5-0 home thumping by Liverpool and a one-sided 2-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City on Saturday.
Ferdinand has been one of many ex-United players to voice support for his former team-mate, who led the club to a second-place finish in the league last season.
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The ex-England defender said fans started the season full of hope after the high-profile signings of Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane before results nosedived.
"I sit here now and I don't think we can challenge to win this league," Ferdinand said on his Vibe with Five podcast.
I believe if Ole leaves Manchester United now, he walks away with his head held high… we discuss in depth today!
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) November 8, 2021
Thoughts?
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"I look at our team every week and I'm wondering what are we going to do tactically. I don't see any philosophy or an identity in the Man United way of playing, whatever that should be from the management. I sit here confused, looking at the team."
Ferdinand said United had made steady progress during Solskjaer's nearly three years at the helm but now he felt there is a need for a change.
"I was always deep down a bit sceptical," said the 43-year-old. "Could he take us on to be champions? I wasn't sure, I wasn't fully convinced -- I hoped he would be able to do that.
"But the showing with the squad that he accumulated, to the beginning of this season – and what I've seen this season - I just feel it might be about the time now for the baton to be handed over to somebody else who can take us on now.
"And I think Ole would leave now with his head held high because from when he came in to where he got us to the beginning of the season I think it's positive."
AFP