Van Persie Asks United To Give Solskjaer Time

By Max Wise

Former Manchester United striker, Robin Van Persie, has asked the club to give Ole Gunnar Solskjaer time if they want to get back to the heydays of the Sir Alex Ferguson era.

Solskjaer was appointed on a caretaker basis in December last year following the dismissal of Jose Mourinho, but after a bright start to life in the United dugout, the Norwegian oversaw a disappointing end to the season as United lost six and won just two of their last ten games after being given the job on a full-time basis in March.

Sir Alex Ferguson spent 26 hugely successful years in charge of Manchester United before retiring in the summer of 2013, but the Red Devils have already gone through four managerial changes since, and have not won the Premier League for the past six seasons.

Manchester United have also failed to qualify for next season’s Champions League after finishing the Premier League season in sixth place.

Van Persie’s 20 league goals helped Manchester United win their last league title in 2013 under Sir Alex, and the former Arsenal striker believes Solskjaer should be given time to return Manchester United to the upper echelons of European football.

"I think it's the perfect match, it's just they're having a bad spell," Van Persie told BBC Sport about Solskjaer’s Manchester United appointment.

"Back in the day it was normal for a manager to get time. Nowadays if you lose six games, you're out. Is that the solution?

"Give someone time, especially if it's a kid from the club."

"Major changes, what do they do? Arsene stayed at Arsenal for 22 years, Sir Alex at United for 26 years.

"If he wants absolutely the best and only the best for the club, give him time. Is it going to change, to find a new manager now after a bad run? And then, so what, he will have a good start and then they will be in the same position.

"Nowadays, as well, if you look at the news, if you hear stories, it's so business-wise.

"If a player has a couple of bad games, 'OK, sell him!'. If he doesn't score a few goals, 'OK, he's out, he's finished'.

"Back in the day you used to get time, you can make mistakes, you can learn. Now I get the feeling that time is less. Ideally, you would get time - as a player, as a coach."