Phil Neville gives his backing to Solskjaer amid Man United crisis

Phil Neville gives his backing to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer despite Man United’s ‘sickening’ 5-0 loss to Liverpool as under-fire boss is given time to turn things around at Old Trafford

  • Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be given chance to turn things around at Man United
  • He has survived the sack – for now – after 5-0 thrashing by Liverpool on Sunday
  • United head to Tottenham in their next match in Premier League on Saturday
  • Solskjaer has received the backing of old team-mate Phil Neville amid crisis
  • Neville described loss to Liverpool as ‘a sickening blow’ for Man United  

Phil Neville has backed his old team-mate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to turn things around at Manchester United in the wake of Sunday’s 5-0 thrashing by Liverpool.

Solskjaer has been granted a stay of execution after fears he would be sacked in the wake of the humiliating result at Old Trafford.

United head to Tottenham on Saturday for what is now a must-win match with Solskjaer and his methods under greater scrutiny than ever.

Under-pressure Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (right) has received the support of his former Manchester United team-mate Phil Neville (left) as he fights to save his job

Solskjaer is feeling the strain after Sunday’s humiliating 5-0 home defeat to Liverpool

But he received support from Inter Miami coach Neville, who played alongside him at United between 1996 and 2005.

‘I’ve played on United teams that lost 5-0,’ he told the Miami Herald.

‘These things happen in football. I think the sensationalism of everything now is just out of control.

‘United lost a game of football 5-0 to Liverpool. Yes, it hurt. Yes, it was probably a real sickening blow for everybody that’s ever played, supported or been involved with Manchester United – but it’s as if United have never lost 5-0 ever in their history.

‘This has happened and United bounced back and won things. I lost at St James’ Park 5-0. Philippe Albert chipped Peter Schmeichel and it felt no different.

‘The only difference was there was not a billion people on Twitter thinking they knew best about this, that and the other.’

Neville is under pressure himself as Inter Miami struggle in their bid to reach the MLS play-offs

Neville pointed out that Man United have lost 5-0 before – including to Newcastle in 1996

United were also on the receiving end of a 5-0 drubbing by Chelsea back in 1999 

Neville didn’t play in his cited 5-0 defeat to Newcastle United in October 1996 but he was involved when Alex Ferguson’s team went down 6-3 at Southampton a week later.

He also played in United’s midfield when they lost 5-0 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in October 1999.

Neville is coach of MLS side Inter Miami, owned by his former team-mate David Beckham, and they face an uphill struggle to reach the play-offs as they head to Atlanta on Wednesday night.

Solskjaer has been spared the sack for now but United are planning to review the 48-year-old’s position in December. He was given a new three-year contract over the summer.

The Norwegian received high-profile backing from legendary manager Ferguson when he visited the training ground on Tuesday.




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