Gary Neville defends Solskjaer after Southampton draw

It’s been a dire start to the season for Manchester United. After beating Chelsea 4-0 in the opening weekend of the Premier League, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men have not managed to win any of the following three games – 1-1 draws against Wolves and Southampton, and a 2-1 loss to Crystal Palace.

Nevertheless, Gary Neville still has faith in the manager. He was speaking on The Gary Neville Podcast over the weekend and pushing his belief that Solskjaer is the man to put things right at the club.

“They just don’t have that clinical element to see games off,” Neville said about United.

READ MORE: Man Utd record worst start to Premier League season in 26 years

“I think Man United are on the right track… the first thing Man United have to do is to have a group of people in the dressing room who want to be there.

“Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is trying to play the long game. He needs support from up-above. He needs really strong leadership over two to three seasons to be able to have the four or five transfer windows he needs.” 

Neville isn’t one for calling for a manager’s head. In fact, I don’t ever recall him expressing a view that would put a manager’s role under question, but he’s spot on about Solskjaer here.

United made the decision to give an unexperienced manager the job, though there are some encouraging signs thus far with new signings Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka looking very good. Harry Maguire too, deserves plenty of praise.

Solskjaer needs to find a way to get more out of his attacking trio. As a unit, they don’t create enough chances and teams know by playing a low block with loads of numbers back they can take at least a point from the game. It’s on show for all to see.

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