Manchester United title winner Dimitar Berbatov says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer cannot afford a slow start to the season.

But Berbatov has called on the United board to give the Norwegian time to turn things around should the club begin on the back foot.

He told the Mirror: "Solskjaer is starting from the start with pre-season.

"He has time to prepare. After that he has no excuses. He needs to start strong because if you don't then you have all this negativity surrounding you.

"I am hopeful. Everybody who is connected to the club, all ex-players are going to be thinking this is the time for him to start playing the Man United way, better than last season. I want to see that, last season was disappointing."