KEY POINTS

  • Rio Ferdinand told Manchester United fans to calm down after their side's 1-1 draw against Everton
  • The club was expected to make big strides after a successful summer transfer window
  • Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has two weeks to prepare his team for a match against Leicester City 

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand publicly defended former teammate and now club manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer from rabid fans after their 1-1 draw with Everton.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand took the time to fire back on fans who have been calling for Solskjaer's firing.

"This isn’t a time to start calling for Ole’s [Solskjaer] head etc, because they are still within touching distance at the top, they’ve still got an opportunity to mount a threat and contend for the [English Premier] League [title].”

Manchester United fans were expecting big things from their club after they announced the signings of Raphael Varane, Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo during the summer transfer window.

Ronaldo has been particularly spectacular in leading the offense as his mere presence forces defenses to give more attention to him, allowing others to take advantage of the opportunities presented.

Sancho and Varane have had their moments to shine this season but have also had their missteps as they adjust to Solskjaer's coaching.

However, it was maligned winger Anthony Martial who would give them an opportunity to win after firing a screamer down Everton’s way at the 43rd minute, scoring the match’s first goal.

Everton would tie the game up 22 minutes later after Andros Townsend got one past goalkeeper David de Gea for the eventual draw.

Winning the game would have placed Manchester United atop the English Premier League table with 16 points, but the draw held them to 14 points instead--good for fourth.

“It’s now three losses in five, drawn one and won one, so it’s not a great vein of form that they’re in. But Man United are good enough, they’ve got good enough players, great depth, they need to start really getting the performances in and the results to turn things around,” said Ferdinand.

With the fans quickly losing faith in Solskjaer after a promising start, his side has this weekend off to fix up their game as they head to Leicester City on October 16.

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