Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has responded to the criticism United legend Gary Neville has given Ed Woodward this week.
Manchester United’s Vice Executive chairman is under huge pressure from fans to complete transfers with just 10 days of the window remaining.
The recruitment at Old Trafford since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement has been disastrous and much of the blame has to lie on the shoulders of Woodward.
United’s need for attacking and midfield reinforcements was obvious in the summer when Ander Herrera and Romelu Lukaku departed the club and weren’t replaced.
This has turned into desperation with injuries and a poor start start to the season accentuating the requirement of signings.
But United’s manager refused to respond directly to Neville’s comments on Woodward.
“For me, now is not the time to speak about recruitment,” Solskjaer said in Tuesday’s pre-match press conference, as quoted by Manchester Evening News.
“We’re looking to the next game against Burnley. We’re always looking to improve the squad and to improve the club but for my mind, now is not the time, Gary, to start this discussion.
“You can look back at history and, of course, we know we’re not where we want to be and should be and historically where we have been. It’s just down to us now to work better.
“I’ve been here 13 months, my experience with the players we’ve brought in has been good, so no complaints whatsoever.”
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Speaking on his own podcast in the wake of the Liverpool defeat, Neville said Woodward should take ultimate responsibility for United’s decline.
“I’m struggling to understand why the ownership have persisted in trusting that management team to oversee the building of a Premier League title-winning team since Sir Alex Ferguson left,”said Neville (via the Mirror).
“Because if you don’t lose your job for essentially overseeing that investment, that wage bill, and putting that team out on the pitch then I have to say something is really wrong.
“I can’t believe the investment that’s been put into the squad in the last five, six, seven years and you end up with that out on the pitch.
While we totally agree with Neville on the incompetence of Woodward, the finger also has to be pointed at the Glazers who continue to employ a man who is inadequate in a role that entails making footballing decisions.
But as long as Woodward is making money for the owners to take out of the club, there will be no desire for him to be removed.
A sad state of affairs.
