Pundits call for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to be sacked after Man United horror show; Fletcher and Zidane lined up

Pundits lined up to slam Ole Gunnar Solskajer’s Manchester United side as “scandalous” ahead of the expected sacking of the Norwegian.

A 4-1 defeat to Watford on Saturday, which also featured a conceded penalty and Harry Maguire’s red card, was reportedly the final straw for the club and talks are said to be underway over a compensation package.

A pay-off of £7.5million has been quoted with numerous outlets suggesting former midfielder Darren Fletcher, currently the Red Devils’ technical director, will take temporary charge.

Real Madrid hero Zinedine Zidane, who left the Bernabeu after a second spell in charge earlier this year, is among those tipped for the job along with Leicester’s Brendan Rodgers and Ajax boss Erik ten Hag.

Saturday’s defeat was just the latest sorry performance from Solskjaer’s United. Both the manager and his players were slated by former pros post-match.

Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports: “I don’t care what anyone tells me, Manchester United have got quality players you can’t lose to Watford 4-1. You can’t.

“So no matter how your manager has set you up or what his tactics are or whatever it may be, whether he has a presence in the dressing room or if those players respect him, who knows.

“But, those players and some of the performances and results they’ve given this season are an absolute disgrace because that is one of the most expensive squads in world football, one of the highest-paid squads in world football and Watford are pretty awful. I’ve watched them a lot this season and to lose there 4-1 is absolutely disgusting and a disgrace from those players.

“The manager will go, we know that, that story is probably going to move on pretty quickly, but some of those performances this season have been absolutely scandalous.”

Alan Shearer outlined the “loss of respect” the players have for the manager, given their performance at Vicarage Road.

“It's quite clear from their attitude and their performance that the players don't want the manager,” he told Match of the Day. “They've stopped running for the manager. They've lost respect for the manager.

“And when you have a player coming out and saying they didn't know what to do with the ball, then that does lie and the manager's feet because that's no plan or no tactics.

“But the players can go out, they can run around, they can have their fun and they can have attitude - but there had none of that. So that tells you what they think of the manager.”

Former Arsenal star Paul Merson stated that the club should hold off from sacking Solskjaer before a permanent appointment is hired, given the importance of Tuesday’s trip to Villarreal.

“How has that result happened? It can only happen through desire. It cannot happen through anything else bar desire,” he said. “If they all play to the best of their ability, there is no way that Watford can beat Man United.

“Today is a hard one, because they have got a big game against Villarreal coming up on Tuesday. Do you go to Villarreal with no one? I don't think you can. This is what they're holding onto now, is the Champions League.”

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