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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Josh O'Brien

Zinedine Zidane's Sir Alex Ferguson comments may serve as red flag for Man Utd

Zinedine Zidane's previous comments over Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson appear to suggest the Frenchman is not the right man for the Old Trafford hot-seat.

Sunday evening's humiliation at the hands of fierce rivals Liverpool has led to fresh scrutiny over current Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with the odds on the Norwegian's sacking getting shorter with each match.

Solskjaer has overseen a particularly dismal run of recent form that has seen United lose three of their last four league outings - three of which have come at home - and concede eleven in the process.

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The demolition job inflicted by Jurgen Klopp's Reds has led many to question whether Solskjaer has taken United as far as he can - losing by such a margin to their most fierce rivals a defeat the Norwegian cannot recover from in the eyes of some.

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Zinedine Zidane is currently without a job after leaving Real Madrid over the summer but may not be the right fit for Man Utd (Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

As a result, a number of names for his successor are already being thrown around - including that of three-time Champions League winning manager Zidane.

However, the former Real Madrid manager has made some comments before that seem to allude to the fact he is not in the managerial game for the long-haul.

Speaking in December of last year prior to his second Los Blancos exit, Zidane explained: "I don't know how long I am going to stay here [at Real Madrid].

"I am very lucky to be at this club and I like being happy even in the most difficult times. I have lived in Spain, in Madrid for a long time and I want to carry on a while longer.

“I'll never be Madrid's [Sir Alex] Ferguson, that's for sure!"

This could scupper any potential move to Manchester for Zidane, though Mundo Deportivo report he is not interested regardless.

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It is clearer now more than ever United need someone willing to take on the job for the long-term and restore English football's biggest side to their former glories.

Club legend Gary Neville explained as much in the wake of United's worst showing in recent memory against Liverpool.

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Neville revealed how he thinks the United hierarchy intend on sticking with Solskjaer until at least the end of the season - an idea he fully supports, due to the merry-go-round of manager's that came before the Norwegian.

"I think the club will hold their nerve, I don’t think they’ve planned for a new manager this season," Neville told Sky Sports.

"I think they’ll get to the end of the season and stick with Ole until the end of the season.

"I know there will be a massive outcry from fans, from the media, from everybody, that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should be sacked, and I can understand that after that game, it’s nowhere near good enough.

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"It was a monstrously bad day and it takes some recovery."

Neville went on to address Solskjaer's predecessors: "I’ve seen Jose Mourinho come into this club and Louis van Gaal and been wholly disappointed.

"The reason the board will stay stable and go at least until the end of the season [with Solskjaer] is because of what happened with Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal."

"They won’t bring a hitman in again. A hitman who comes in and does a job for two years."

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