‘Move with the times’ - Ole Gunnar Solskjaer calls on Man Utd to build new Old Trafford stadium

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said Manchester United should ‘move with the times’ and build a new stadium.

Reports this week claimed Sir Jim Ratcliffe hopes to construct a new ground on the land surrounding Old Trafford, given the issues with redeveloping the current stadium. Erik ten Hag was asked for his opinion early this week and said it would ‘express the ambition of this club’.

His predecessor evidently agrees and former United striker and manager Solskjaer claimed that such a momentous change should not be viewed as a negative.

"We have to move with the times and at the moment something has to happen," the Norwegian said, as per Reuters. "It's either renovation or a new stadium because we're falling behind if we're staying in the same place we have.

"It's going to divide fans for sure, because history is important. But we traded The Cliff [training ground], which was iconic for United and the Busby Babes, with Carrington. It looks like we might have to build a new stadium."

Solskjaer was addressing an audience in the Indian city of Bengaluru when he made the comments and the 50-year-old also said he hopes Marcus Rashford’s recent omission from the team following his exploits in Belfast act as a ‘wake-up’ call.

The United attacker enjoyed two nights out in the Northern Irish capital before calling in sick to training and misleading the club about his whereabouts. He was subsequently dropped for an FA Cup trip to Newport County but has since returned to the team and played in the last two matches.

“Obviously I managed Marcus for three years and I know him. It's not my job to go out and discuss his performances, but last season he was fantastic and it's about consistency in football,” said Solskjaer.

“Marcus and many others haven't hit the heights this season. I'm sure he had a wake-up call last week and hopefully that will spur him on. Is it the manager's job to get the best out of him, or is it mostly himself or any player's responsibility to get the best out of yourself? I think that's more it.”