<p>Rio Ferdinand has called for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to hand over the Manchester United manager's "baton" after a string of damaging results left the club well off the pace in the Premier League.</p>.<p>The Norwegian boss is under intense pressure after a 5-0 home thumping by Liverpool and a one-sided 2-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City on Saturday.</p>.<p>Ferdinand has been one of many ex-United players to voice support for his former team-mate, who led the club to a second-place finish in the league last season.</p>.<p>The ex-England defender said fans started the season full of hope after the high-profile signings of Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane before results nosedived.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/solskjaer-denies-he-is-on-borrowed-time-despite-manchester-city-defeat-1047920.html" target="_blank">Solskjaer denies he is on borrowed time despite Manchester City defeat</a></strong></p>.<p>"I sit here now and I don't think we can challenge to win this league," Ferdinand said on his Vibe with Five podcast.</p>.<p>"I look at our team every week and I'm wondering what are we going to do tactically. I don't see any philosophy or an identity in the Man United way of playing, whatever that should be from the management. I sit here confused, looking at the team."</p>.<p>Ferdinand said United had made steady progress during Solskjaer's nearly three years at the helm but now he felt there is a need for a change.</p>.<p>"I was always deep down a bit sceptical," said the 43-year-old. "Could he take us on to be champions? I wasn't sure, I wasn't fully convinced -- I hoped he would be able to do that.</p>.<p>"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.</p>.<p>"And I think Ole would leave now with his head held high because from when he came in to where he got us to the beginning of the season I think it's positive."</p>.<p>United forward Marcus Rashford acknowledged that the Red Devils are going through a "difficult patch" but said the club had to maintain the ambition to end a four-year trophy drought this season.</p>.<p>Rashford was speaking from Windsor Castle on Tuesday after a ceremony for the royal honour he was awarded following his campaign to help disadvantaged children.</p>.<p>On the field, the England international has recently returned to fitness after shoulder surgery, scoring three times in six appearances.</p>.<p>"I know at the moment we're in a difficult patch but the desire and ambition never changes," said Rashford.</p>.<p>"We all play for the badge and the club, something for me I've dreamed of since I was a kid.</p>.<p>"For the players that we sign, they see Manchester United as the great club it is and they want to give everything they can for the badge.</p>.<p>"And those things remain the same whether you're in good spells or bad spells."</p>.<p><strong>Check out latest DH videos here</strong></p>
<p>Rio Ferdinand has called for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to hand over the Manchester United manager's "baton" after a string of damaging results left the club well off the pace in the Premier League.</p>.<p>The Norwegian boss is under intense pressure after a 5-0 home thumping by Liverpool and a one-sided 2-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City on Saturday.</p>.<p>Ferdinand has been one of many ex-United players to voice support for his former team-mate, who led the club to a second-place finish in the league last season.</p>.<p>The ex-England defender said fans started the season full of hope after the high-profile signings of Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane before results nosedived.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/solskjaer-denies-he-is-on-borrowed-time-despite-manchester-city-defeat-1047920.html" target="_blank">Solskjaer denies he is on borrowed time despite Manchester City defeat</a></strong></p>.<p>"I sit here now and I don't think we can challenge to win this league," Ferdinand said on his Vibe with Five podcast.</p>.<p>"I look at our team every week and I'm wondering what are we going to do tactically. I don't see any philosophy or an identity in the Man United way of playing, whatever that should be from the management. I sit here confused, looking at the team."</p>.<p>Ferdinand said United had made steady progress during Solskjaer's nearly three years at the helm but now he felt there is a need for a change.</p>.<p>"I was always deep down a bit sceptical," said the 43-year-old. "Could he take us on to be champions? I wasn't sure, I wasn't fully convinced -- I hoped he would be able to do that.</p>.<p>"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.</p>.<p>"And I think Ole would leave now with his head held high because from when he came in to where he got us to the beginning of the season I think it's positive."</p>.<p>United forward Marcus Rashford acknowledged that the Red Devils are going through a "difficult patch" but said the club had to maintain the ambition to end a four-year trophy drought this season.</p>.<p>Rashford was speaking from Windsor Castle on Tuesday after a ceremony for the royal honour he was awarded following his campaign to help disadvantaged children.</p>.<p>On the field, the England international has recently returned to fitness after shoulder surgery, scoring three times in six appearances.</p>.<p>"I know at the moment we're in a difficult patch but the desire and ambition never changes," said Rashford.</p>.<p>"We all play for the badge and the club, something for me I've dreamed of since I was a kid.</p>.<p>"For the players that we sign, they see Manchester United as the great club it is and they want to give everything they can for the badge.</p>.<p>"And those things remain the same whether you're in good spells or bad spells."</p>.<p><strong>Check out latest DH videos here</strong></p>