MANCHESTER UNITED legend Ron Atkinson has told his old club they can forget about qualifying for next season’s Champions League – but reckons Ole Gunnar Solsjkjaer can bring the good times back to Old Trafford.
Big Ron says United are in a “transition period” but believes the Norwegian has what it takes to win silverware for the Red Devils.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been backed by ex-United boss Ron AtkinsonCredit: Reuters
There has been huge talk of ex-Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino being parachuted in to replace Solskjaer, appointed after Jose Mourinho was sacked a year ago.
But Atkinson, who managed United to two FA Cup wins in the 1980s, insists Solskjaer needs more time to build a team capable of competing for the Premier League title.
Solskjaer spent £85million on centre-back Harry Maguire, £50m on right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka and £18m on winger Daniel James.
But Big Ron thinks United need several more signings in a huge overhaul to get back to the very top.
The former United boss, now 80, said: “Unless it’s an absolute disaster they should stick with what they’ve got until the end of the season at least.
“I think he should be given the January window. I know it’s not that easy to deal in it but his first three signings are decent. If Maguire had gone to Manchester City they would win the league.
“The Pochettino thing complicates it a bit. It was mentioned even when he was in a job at Tottenham. Now he’s out of a job it will be talked about even more.”
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Atkinson said: “David Moyes was on a six-year contract and thought he was on a rebuild from start to finish.
“At the time, they were talking about transition. Barcelona don’t have a transitional period. Now I think United are in one — I don’t think for a minute they will make the top four.
“Louis van Gaal was certainly different. At times I thought he made Jose Mourinho look like a shrinking violet.
“I was manager of Manchester United and also played against them.
“If you were the opposing manager at Old Trafford, I would say, ‘As soon as you go out that door, be on your toes because they will come for you hell for leather in the first 20 minutes’.
Big Ron in his United hey-dayCredit: Getty – Contributor
“When I was in the other dugout I would say, ‘They’re expecting it, don’t disappoint them’. I don’t think Van Gaal bought into that.
“I was a big Mourinho fan but for some reason he didn’t lighten up enough for me. Instead of saying after a game, ‘We got away with that today’, he’d start putting fingers up saying, ‘I’ve won five’. Don’t do it.
“When he first came to Chelsea he was abrasive but funny abrasive. Maybe he can rediscover that at Tottenham. I hope he does.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
