"I don't think any manager should take that kind of flak; whether it's United or non-league."
Former Manchester United forward Andy Cole believes that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer does not deserve the criticism he has received and said that it "doesn't sit well" with him.
Solskjaer has been subject to plenty of criticism in recent weeks after United's indifferent start to the season - the most recent being a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City, with many calling for the Red Devils to replace the Norwegian.
But Cole, who was a teammate of Solskjaer's during his playing career at Old Trafford, can't understand the speculation around his job and that he is trying his hardest to turn the poor form around.
Andy Cole: Solskjaer criticism is disappointing.
"The flak that Ole gets disappoints me," Cole told
Sky Sports.
"I don't think any manager should take that kind of flak; whether it's United or non-league. I think they are trying to work to the best of their ability. He's trying like everybody else who tried previously.
"Whether he is my ex-team-mate or not, even if it was someone I didn't know, I wouldn't like people to talk about them like that. But I don't like it because when I played with him I got on very well with him. To see him in this position now doesn't sit well with me."
Cole also feels that United should bide their time with Solskjaer as previous managerial appointments have proved that a quick-fix isn't always the best long-term solution.
Cole on Man United.
He added: "We all want Manchester United to be back where they were, but that takes time. We can talk about 'how much longer?' But the previous managers have found themselves in the same position. The stick that Ole takes is, at times, not nice.
"Things are never going to be easy for a club like Manchester United. To succeed Sir Alex Ferguson was always going to be difficult for whichever manager takes over - and what are we now, four managers in? And we are still talking about United not being in the position they would like to be.
"But other teams have got to move forward. Look how long it took Liverpool to win the league. I'm not saying United are going to be in that position, but you can't be kept by history. Manchester United have to get stronger as a team and go from there."
