Manchester United's main problem is that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is not the next Jurgen Klopp, which is a major issue if they are to progress and flourish as a team.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was meant to follow in the footsteps of Jurgen Klopp, but his ability to do so is based more on trust than logic. Manchester United play Liverpool this Sunday with the match being streamed around the world, kick-off in this English Premier League clash of the titans is at 4.30 p.m.
When it came to discussing why coaches needed more time, Sir Alex Ferguson was the go-to example because it took him three and a half years to win his first trophy at Manchester United. Jurgen Klopp is now being held up as the manager to which Solskjaer should aspire.
The Liverpool manager, like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, won nothing in his first two full seasons in charge. Indeed, as Gary Neville recently commented, "their records during that time span were "nearly exact in terms of performance."
"What matters most is what happens going forwards," Neville added. "I'm sure the board of Manchester United's backroom team is looking at it and thinking, 'He's developing something.' In his first three seasons at Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp did exactly that."
Klopp had twice won the title with Borussia Dortmund, already taking them to a Champions League final. He arrived at Liverpool as one of the most respected coaches in European football. There was little cause to question the journey on which he was taking them.
Solskjaer doesn't have that track record, so he'll have to make a stronger case. United are adrift of their competitors eight games into the Premier League season, despite being financially backed in the summer. The need for signs of development shown by positive results and improvement in table position is imperative.
This is the risk of playing the waiting game, as well as the Klopp comparison. What if Solskjaer isn't constructing the team that some of his followers believe he is? Time spent on a project that fails to produce results would be classed as time and money wasted by the Manchester United hierarchy.
Solskjaer needs to get his underperforming team firing quickly otherwise you have to ask the question "how soon it would be before he is buying a one way ticket back to Norway?"