Rio Ferdinand has finally come full circle on Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
From "get the contract out" live on BT Sport, it's now time for United to pass the baton on to someone else, according to the former defender.
Saturday's 2-0 defeat at home to Manchester City has increased the pressure on Solskjaer but, despite a spate of Premier League sackings ahead of the international break, the Norwegian's job appears safe. For now.
His standing, however, won't be helped by such a clear statement from one of his most public long-time backers. Ferdinand even went so far as to play a role in the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo away from the clutches of City on deadline day.
Now, Ferdinand believes it's time for United to change course.
Speaking on his marvellously-named Vibe With Five podcast, Ferdinand said, "We started this season with such hope but also the transfer window that we had, the excitement, we were all sitting there going 'this is our time now'.
"Ole was brought in to get us to that point. He was brought in to get the squad in-tact, get the players in to make us challenge for the league.
"I sit here now and I don't think we can challenge for this league.
"I look at our team every week wondering what are we gonna do tactically? I don't see any philosophy or identity in the Man United way of playing whatever that should be from the management.
"I sit here looking confused at the team.
"I was always deep down a bit sceptical, could he take us on to be champions? I wasn’t fully convinced – I wasn’t sure he could do that.
"But the showing with the squad that he accumulated, to the beginning of this season - and what I’ve seen this season - I just feel it might be about the time now for the baton to be handed over to somebody else who can take us on now.
"And I think Ole would leave now with his head held high because because from when he came in to where he got us at the beginning of the season I think it's been positive.
"I’ve always said that the trajectory has been slow – not a big spike when you think wow, he’s changed it like Tuchel’s done at Chelsea, but where he’s taken it over his tenure since he's been here, it’s a gradual increase to the beginning of this season.
I look at little details, it’s not just the team aren’t where they should be in the league and we’re not challenging etc, they’re valid point.
"But when I watch our team and sit there and feel the players aren’t in fear – the intensity’s not right, players aren’t sprinting out and hurting themselves sometimes in games – I see that as a disrespect to the manager and almost like, 'I don’t fear [him]'.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrZf2Y0QhWs
"Every great manager who has been successful or won things in this game, they have an element in fear. Pep now, Klopp now, Tuchel now, Fergie in my time, George Graham at Arsenal, Arsene Wenger - there’s an element of ‘If you don’t do what I say, you don’t follow the rules, you don’t follow the fundamentals that make us successful - you are getting back here and sitting in front of me or behind me on the bench and watch - I don’t see that fear in this squad.
"That can’t be right. It ain’t right."
Ferdinand's comments aren't far off those of another ex-United captain in Roy Keane. The Cork native said, "I give up on these players" by half-time of Saturday's defeat.
And the ex-Leeds and West Ham player now feels it's time for Solskjaer to leave.
"He's done actually what he's been brought in to do," said Ferdinand, "He's come in and give the fans hope again, made the fans want to come back and watch your team again.
"He's done that - he's done a great job in that sense but is he going to take us to win titles? Is he going to make us challenge to win a Champions League? Sitting here I have to be honest with myself and say I think no."
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