Gary Neville has questioned the ‘dynamic’ at Manchester United and admits Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is under ‘massive pressure’ ahead of the club’s clash with Liverpool this weekend.
United have won just one of their past five fixtures across all competitions following Saturday’s 4-2 defeat to Leicester at the King Power Stadium, with the Red Devils now five points adrift of Premier League leaders Chelsea.
Solskjaer’s side face Atalanta in the Champions League tomorrow evening before a huge clash against rivals Liverpool this weekend, and Neville has questioned whether the club’s dressing room dynamic has been unsettled following their marquee summer arrivals.
“I thought that last season there was something building. I think if you asked him privately ‘would you like last season’s squad back?’ I think he probably would go back,” he said on Monday Night Football.
“He has Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Edinson Cavani, Paul Pogba and Harry Maguire. Massive characters in the dressing room, Maguire will look at Varane in the dressing room and think ‘am I the top dog anymore?’
“You have the dynamic of Cavani sat on the bench who was begged to stay but now has Ronaldo, Rashford and Greenwood in front of him. Sancho has come in for £75m and now he is looking like he is in and out.
“The aura of Ronaldo, Fernandes is walking around with his arms out all the time, Pogba doesn’t know if he is staying or leaving, the emerging captain Maguire thinking how he controls this lot.”
“Ole has to solve it this week,” he added.
“On Sunday, this lot are an odd bunch, they could out and do Liverpool. They have to get that spirit and dynamic right.”
Neville believes that Solskjaer is under ‘massive pressure’ to deliver silverware success this season, but believes his former teammate should be given until the end of the campaign at least as he seeks to fulfil the side’s ambitions.
“He should be under massive pressure because he’s been there for two years, 100 per cent,” he said.
“I have Manchester United fans on my social media saying ‘you won’t call him out because he’s your mate’.
“No I won’t. I won’t call out any manager and ask for them to be sacked. He’s my former team-mate and I actually like him a lot, Manchester United have failed with two managers who are perceived as world class.
“I think you give him until the end of the season.
“The pressure is building though, what a collection of players, he has to get them to perform.”
