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Rio Ferdinand has doubled down on his claims that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer must be sacked if Manchester United are to turn the corner – and has defended his right to express his “honest opinion”.

United face a massive match at Watford on Saturday in a game that could prove crucial to their season. A run of one win in six games has left them cut adrift in the Premier League title race. And but for Cristiano Ronaldo’s Champions League heroics, they would also be facing an early elimination in Europe too.

Thankfully though for Solskjaer, our Predictions are at least tipping them for some respite at Vicarage Road.

The pressure has seemingly been ramped up on Solskjaer this season after a big summer of spending. The arrivals of Ronaldo, as well as Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho certainly raised expectations.

One area of the field though that United failed to address was the central midfield. As such, reports on Saturday morning claim United are in the market to sign a £60m Uruguayan in what could prove a last roll of the dice by Solskjaer.

However, Ferdinand has strongly insisted that Solskjaer needs removing from the United hotseat as a matter of urgency.

Those comments though have drawn strong criticism from fellow pundit and former United teammate Gary Neville. He has hit at out Ferdinand and other pundits who are calling on the likes of Solskjaer to lose their job.

Ferdinand though has defended his right to express his opinion – and is adamant that a change is needed if United are to improve.

“We’re all quick to talk about players, [saying] players should be out the window, should never wear the shirt again, so it’s got to be the same for the managers” Ferdinand said on BT Sport.

“I’m not saying I’m enjoying saying a manager should lose his job, I’m just saying things aren’t going well. And maybe there needs to be a change if you want to improve things.

“I think that’s just an honest assessment of things and that’s what I’m paid to do is give an honest assessment – whether it’s friends, former teammates or people that I don’t know, I treat them all the same.”

Ferdinand defends his Solskjaer sack claim

In response to Ferdinand’s claims, Neville stated: “When I see another pundit calling for any sacking, I cringe. My stomach turns,” Neville told the Daily Mail, reiterating that arguing for a sacking is “not my style”.

“My line is crossed with that. Maybe their line is in a different place.”

Asked about going against the grain and calling for Solskjaer to be sacked, Ferdinand defended his right to express his opinion.

“Everyone deals with situations differently and I think you’ve got to respect that,” Ferdinand argued.

“I respect that other people have different ways of doing things. Their opinions and approach to this situation is different. But that’s life and in all walks of life it’s the same.

“I see it the way I see it and I’ll stand by that. I’m very comfortable and confident with saying what I want to say.”

READ MORE: Latest Solskjaer promise has telling new tune as Lingard, Van de Beek learn Man Utd fate

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