Didi Hamann: Man Utd not making progress under Solskjaer

Champions League and FA Cup winner Didi Hamann talks about this weekend's Manchester derby, former club Liverpool's chances in the Premier League and Tottenham's appointment of Antonio Conte.

Former Liverpool and Manchester City midfielder Didi Hamann does not believe Manchester United are making any progress under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and, on the eve of the Manchester derby, thinks it is a case of when and not if he will be sacked.

United were hammered 5-0 by Liverpool at Old Trafford last month, raising serious questions about Solskjaer's credentials as Red Devils boss, before winning their latest Premier League contest 3-0 against Tottenham.

Asked if a repeat of the Liverpool performance could be on the cards when United host City on Saturday, Hamann told Freesupertips.com: "There's a chance. Liverpool and Manchester City are the two best teams so it could happen.

"That Liverpool result will still be in the back of the heads of the Manchester United players.

"I don't expect it to happen again, but Manchester City will beat them handsomely, I think."

And the former Germany international does not believe Solskjaer has a future at the club.

He added: "They're not making any progress, if you look at the team and the performances so far, it's not good enough.

"People say Ronaldo is the problem, but where would they be without his goals. With the squad they've assembled and how long the manager has been there for now, you can't just say 'give him another transfer window'.

"I think it's a matter of when and not if and there's a lot of his ex-teammates who don't want to call him out or say it as it is."

With United stuttering under Solskjaer, Hamann doubts they will be involved in the title race but believes his former club on Merseyside are serious contenders.

He said: "I think it's looking like a three-horse race - I don't think United will come into it, West Ham don't have the strength in depth and Arsenal you just have to wait and see what happens with them.

"I can't see those teams making up the points, so I think it'll be between the current top three.

"I don't think Chelsea will come out on top though, I think Liverpool or Manchester City will win it."

If Liverpool are to win a second Premier League title under manager Jurgen Klopp, scintillating forward Mo Salah is sure to play a part.

The Egyptian has been unstoppable this season with ten goals and six assists to his name after ten league games and Hamann believes the Liverpool forward is the best in the world.

"I think him and Robert Lewandowski, in terms of numbers, are a step ahead of everyone else," he continued.

"I think the Ballon d'or should be between the two of them.

"Lewandowski broke Muller's record last season, but at the moment I think Salah is the best in the world because he scores goals no one else would."

Salah joined Liverpool from Roma back in 2017 for an initial £36.5 million and has evolved into one of the Premier League's finest talents.

During his time at Anfield, Liverpool have won the Premier League and Champions League with Salah forming part of a dangerous attacking trifecta along with Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.

Hamann said: "The thing with Salah is he gets compared to all these Liverpool great strikers: Rush, Dalgleish, Owen, Fowler, Aldridge, all these great centre forwards.

"But if you compare Salah's numbers to these guys, they were all centre forwards and Salah is a winger and he scores all these goals.

"I think he's scored 20 Premier League goals a season since he arrived at Liverpool which is unbelievable."

This weekend will also see former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte take charge of his first league fixture as Tottenham boss, having filled the vacancy left by departed boss Nuno Espirito Santo this week.

And although Hamann thinks Conte will perform better than his predecessor, he is not convinced by the quality of the Tottenham squad.

Regarding the appointment, Hamann added: "I think he'll do better than the last manager, the question is how good is the squad?

"We know they have Kane and Son, but they've been relying on those two players for the last five years.

"I'm not sure the squad is as good as the expectations Spurs have.

"Everyone thinks Spurs should be in or challenging for the Champions League, but I don't think the squad is better than Arsenal, Leicester or West Ham's squads."

Tottenham won their first game under Conte 3-2 against Vitesse in the Europa Conference League on Thursday and travel to Goodison Park to face Everton this weekend.

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