Ole Gunner Solskjaer “has got to get his hands on a trophy”, says Roy Keane, as Manchester United should “automatically” be securing a top-four finish and qualification for the Champions League.
Regression at Old Trafford since Sir Alex Ferguson headed into retirement back in 2013 has forced ambition to be reined in.
A side with 13 Premier League title triumphs to their name have fallen a long way off the pace in that particular battle over recent years.
Securing a seat among the European elite has become the new top priority, with United missing that target on occasions.
Keane believes that should now be the bare minimum requirement for a team of the Red Devils’ stature, with Solskjaer having returned the team to that stage in 2020-21 – only to come unstuck at the group phase and miss out on a place in the last 16.
For the former midfielder, United need to be setting their sights on major silverware – having already gone three years without tangible success – with their manager under pressure to deliver on expectation.
Keane told Sky Sports: “I think he has got to get his hands on a trophy.
“There's an obsession about getting in the top four, but l think Manchester United should be automatically doing that.
“I think by the end of the season Ole will have been in the job long enough to say do we think he is the man to get Manchester United back to challenging for titles.
“I still think they are behind Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea. But get your hands on some trophies.”
Gary Neville is another United legend looking for Solskjaer to start establishing greater consistency at Old Trafford in what is his second full season at the helm.
The ex-Red Devils defender said: “I think Ole has to start dominating games. In the last 12 months, where Manchester United have won games it has been through two forms of tactics. It's either been counterattack or it has been in moments - Southampton and West Ham, in recent weeks.
"They aren't what you would really call performances, driving the other team into the ground. They are playing in moments.
“In the next six to eight months, they have to dominate matches and dominate big games. That will be the determining factor for Ole.
“They have to start playing as a team and perform. All the teams who win titles dominate football matches - dominating possession, being on the front foot and winning big matches. Ole hasn't got Manchester United there yet and he's been in the job two years.
“He's got a big seven months to deliver that. If he doesn't, he will be in trouble.
“Last season was massive, finishing third. That was a big, big moment for him. But now he has to get closer to City and Liverpool and dominate matches. I don't see it at this moment in time. The performances I am seeing are not anywhere near good enough.”