Keane Urges United To Stand By Solskjaer

Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has urged the club to stand by boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after Monday’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal. The Red Devils have made their worst start to a top-flight campaign since 1989-90 after picking up just nine points from their first seven matches, with Monday’s game ending in a 1-1 draw.

It is the first time they have won fewer than 10 points from their opening seven games in the Premier League era and the pressure is on Solskjaer at Old Trafford.

The Norwegian enjoyed a superb start as caretaker after replacing Jose Mourinho, winning 14 of his first 19 matches. He was given a three-year contract in March, but the former Molde boss has found life tough since taking the reins permanently.

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United face six away games in their next seven games and there is every chance their form may not improve before the end of October.

Solskjaer’s former team-mate Keane believes patience is needed at Old Trafford and has urged the United board to give him several transfer windows in order to fix the club’s issues.

He told Sky Sports: “They’ve given him the job and the contract, so support him and let him get on with it. Give him a couple of transfer windows. Are there more tough days ahead? You can bet your life there is. But they have to persevere.”

On the Arsenal draw after United squandered a 1-0 lead, the Irishman added: “I thought United should go on to win comfortably, but it’s a mix of belief, confidence and quality – a combination of all those things.

“They’re not cutting teams open. It’s all on the counter-attack, but that’s where the team is at. It’s hard work watching them, but I bet it’s hard work for the players, too. It’s not happening, but you’ve got to keep persevering – they have to get a big result soon just to get some confidence.”