Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has claimed that no-one could envisage the Red Devils 'sinking so low' following Saturday's defeat to Manchester City.
Two weeks on from being thrashed 5-0 by Liverpool at Old Trafford, the Red Devils went down 2-0 to Pep Guardiola's men courtesy of Eric Bailly's own goal and Bernardo Silva's finish.
United's dire performance has once again sparked debate about Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's future in the hotseat, and Neville believes that his former club's current state is not what anybody could have predicted.
Speaking to Sky Sports News, Neville said: "Ole is under massive, massive pressure but the first thing that has to happen is that he needs a team with courage.
"Up to the end of last season, the feeling here [at Old Trafford] was that there was progression because they finished second in the league. Everyone then thought that they got their recruitment right in the summer.
"So the club has not planned for this. I know there are some United fans who think the club should have acted two weeks ago because Antonio Conte was available but this club was never going to appoint Conte and they are not prepared for this moment because they have the plan behind Ole.
"I don't think there is any chance there will a decision [on the manager] during this season unless it gets so bad and it is getting to the point where it is so bad. They are 11 points off the top of the league if Chelsea win today [Chelsea drew, so United are 9 points behind] and this United squad should not be [so far] off the top.
"Nobody has expected this. Nobody would have expected United would sink so low at this point in the season. I think he has a few weeks to sort it out."
United could drop to seventh in the Premier League table should results not go their way on Sunday.
Ben Knapton
