‘Ole is out of his depth’ – Former Man Utd player accuses Solskjaer of ‘self-preservation’

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his coaching staff are not good enough to manage Manchester United.

That’s the scathing verdict offered by former Red Devils defender John O’Kane, who spent five years at the club between 1993 and 1998.

Solskjaer’s United sit fourth in the Premier League table and many feel he must deliver trophies this season following the arrival of Raphael Varane, Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo this summer.

The Norwegian had previously managed Molde and Cardiff City prior to taking the Old Trafford job and O’Kane thinks he is way out of depth – also taking aim at his coaching staff in Mike Phelan, Kieran McKenna and Michael Carrick.

‘We know Ole was brought in to appease the fans, because it was toxic under Jose Mourinho,’ O’Kane told the Mirror.

‘Ole has come in and he’s a lovely guy – but he’s not the manager for United. He’s out of his depth.

‘Look at the coaching staff he’s got there – they’re just not good enough.

‘Mike Phelan is a top bloke, one of the nicest blokes I’ve met in football, but look where he’s come from.

‘Kieran McKenna, a former Under-18s coach, Michael Carrick – they’re all learning on the job and this is the biggest club in the world.’

Prior to the international break, United were held to a 1-1 draw against Everton – a match Solskjaer chose to start star man Ronaldo on the bench.

The 48-year-old has also been criticised of late for picking a defensive-focused side featuring two defensive midfielders in Fred and Scott McTominay, despite the array of attacking players at his disposal.

And O’Kane feels a humbling defeat to Tottenham last season shaped the way Solskjaer picks his team, sensationally accusing him of ‘self-preservation’ to avoid another battering.

‘Since they got hammered 6-1 at home by Spurs last season, he’s reverted to playing two defensive midfielders,’ added O’Kane. ‘The safe option. I call it self-preservation.

‘They need a better manager in there, but all the fans love Ole, don’t they?

‘The Glazers are clever people, they’ve basically appointed a patsy who they know the fans will never go against.’