The former Red Devils striker hopes questions of the Norwegian’s future will subside, as he has shown that positive progress can be made
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s situation at Manchester United would have been very different had the Red Devils managed to win one of the three semi-finals they reached in 2019-20, claims Andy Cole.
Questions are once again being asked of the man filling a demanding coaching post at Old Trafford.
Inconsistency has remained an issue in the current campaign, with United unable to build on the momentum they established towards the end of last season.
Change in the dugout is now being mooted, although a 3-1 win over Everton has helped to ease some of the pressure on Solskjaer.
Cole believes that the Red Devils have the right man for a tough job and hopes patience will be shown with a boss who showed that positive progress can be made when guiding his side to the last four of Carabao Cup, FA Cup and Europa League competition.
The former United striker told talkSPORT: “Things would be so different if Ole had won one of the cup semi-finals we got to last season. Things would be massively different.
“People wouldn’t be talking about him the way they’re talking about him now.
“Manchester United have not started the way they would have liked to have started the season. Their form in Europe has been really good up until last week [the 2-1 defeat to Istanbul Basaksehir].
“Their form in the league has not been the best for whatever reason.
“But stick with Ole. You need to do the things that are right. He’s done a very good job since taking over.”
Cole has also urged critics of United youngster Mason Greenwood to lay off the 19-year-old, with questions of his attitude and application doing nobody any favours.
He added on one of the hottest prospects in English football and the advice that he would offer to a talented teenager: “Hard work, dedication and get your head down.
“I’ve always been used to getting my head down and working, working, working, putting the hard work in.
“You’ve got to be dedicated. You’ve got to make sacrifices.
“With Mason, he just [needs to] get his head down and [for] the media to leave him alone… he’s a kid.”