Solskjaer gets a thumbs up

– Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the right manager to rebuild Manchester United but needs time to get the team back into a position where they can compete for titles, departing midfielder Ander Herrera (above) has said.

Solskjaer, who took interim charge in December, won 10 of his first 11 games and was handed the job on a permanent basis in March only for results to nosedive in the months that followed.

United were knocked out in the Champions League quarterfinal and finished sixth in the Premier League after a dismal run of two wins in their last 12 games, leading to questions about whether the Norwegian is the right man for the job.

“I really believe in Ole,” Herrera, who is tipped to join French champions Paris St-Germain, told United’s official website.

“He’s the right person. I really believe in [the coaching staff] ... but I think there’s a tough job ahead. The club will need time, confidence and support.”

Herrera, who announced the end of his five-year stint at United last week, highlighted how long it had taken United’s rivals Liverpool to get into a position where they could challenge for silverware again.

The Spaniard also said United’s players needed to take responsibility for the club’s struggles and refused to blame Solskjaer or his predecessor Jose Mourinho for their abysmal season.

“I think every one of us has to take responsibility for what we have done wrong,” Herrera said. “It’s very easy when a manager is sacked to blame someone else but it’s the fault of every one of us.

“When you’ve a bad season, 75% is the responsibility of the players.” – Reuters

Manchester