FEELS LIKE UNITED AGAIN
With Ole at the helm, United is forging an expected resurgence against contenders who had quickly reduced the once formidable champions to a force of the past
As they say, when things are going too well, there will be a complementing uncanny apprehension that something might ruin the day. And even if something does mar chances, optimism should be channelised to overcome hurdles, unexpected or not.
When a rejuvenated Manchester United under its new interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer lost its first game after an 11-match unbeaten run, the uncanny apprehension bred disappointment. It had been preceded by a scintillating rise in form for the Red Devils who have had a patchy campaign, yet again, till midDecember. Of course, every bit of the credit for such a tremendous surge in fighting spirit must be conferred to Solskjaer, who came to United’s rescue once again – this time as manager. The United faithful were taken back to when Solskjaer had hit the net in 1999, sending Camp Nou into a frenzy and lifting the Champions League with the famous batch of ’92, who achieved the club’s only treble in its long, illustrious history. United’s fan base knows Solskjaer all too well.
A celebrated figure, Solskjaer’s appointment as the interim boss had changed the atmosphere at Old Trafford. There may not be a single fan who will not agree to two glaring realities about Manchester United that apprehended Ole’s appointment. First, United was floating in a sea of mediocrity under Mourinho whose credentials that got him at the helm had drastically failed him. And second, picking out Ole from a lot of probable caretakers was somewhere backed by the belief that only he, a true blood United, can tend to the lacklustre the team had become synonymous with by then. The damage, many may argue, was already done in some manner by the time Ole assumed affairs at the helm. Yet, a Red himself, Ole’s nascent managerial skills had developed directly alongside his conviction as a player. And, who does not know Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as a player? The Norwegian is lauded by his peers, managers and fans alike. But, above his character certificate, was his relevance to the task he was assigned: Get United back on track! And, boy he did.
It is futile arguing that 12 games are enough to comment on excellence, since that is a start not even Fergie boasts of as a manager – and, no one can be compared to the precision and stature of
Sir Alex Ferguson. United supporters, in some manner, were satisfied with Ole’s presence, not just because he was a Red but also because he was one of the decorated under Fergie.
It is then not hard to believe when football pundits claim that the ‘feel good’ factor seems to have returned to the Theatre of Dreams. Under Ole, United fought to climb to the top four – one they would want to retain through the remaining season at all costs, given the automatic qualification to Champions League on offer. After sinking Arsenal, United progressed to the fifth round of FA cup where they are due to face Chelsea. United’s resurrection also boasts of a newly found goal-scoring form which was a major concern for the club in the previous season(s). Marcos Rashford, Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard have all been outstanding in their performances so far, and Ole’s remarks on them speak of the trust he has on his players. Many believed that Alexis Sanchez would be the one grabbing eyeballs when he arrived from Arsenal, but he is yet to pick his best form. A revitalised Pogba has led well under Ole, scoring at times and providing United with an extra edge in its superb attacking midfield. Ander Herrera and Matic offer the right kind of support to Pogba in the midfield. United’s back four is the area where concerns should actually be drawn the most. Unlike other title contenders, United’s defence, though fair, is capable of committing mistakes that the opponent can capitalise upon. And, in football, if two teams are well-matched with a balanced attack and defence, the one who can capitalise on another’s mistake comes out on top. In such a case, Solskjaer’s primary concern then is to get his defence together and make them share that same passion and vigour which Ole himself possesses. David Dea Gea is still the best person to protect United’s net and he has, time and again, displayed that rigour with his stupendous saves. This crop of players that Ole has at his disposal is certainly not the best that United has seen but no team is the best per se, they are forged to reach the pinnacle someday!
Though it had been a pretty picture until the Red Devils lost to PSG – it would also be rather un-united if they didn’t. Champions, after all, are made of their resurgence from nadir. In all those years under Fergie, if there was one thing every team acknowledged about United, it was the Red Devils’ capacity to come from behind and stun its opposition. United faithfuls have been lucky to witness countless turnarounds. But this skill is accredited to Sir Alex and not Solskjaer. After Fergie, no manager – Moyes, Van Gaal, Mourinho – has been able to light United’s spirit in the same way. But when it comes to Ole, the intuition urges to consider otherwise. Ole has the United DNA much like Pep had the Barca DNA and the world knows what Pep Guardiola managed to do with it. Now, while Ole does not have Messi at his disposal like Pep, the trio of Martial, Rashford, Lingard is enough firepower and talent for Ole to sustain his barracks. While a popular result is pegged at an aggregate loss for United in the reverse fixture on March 6, PSG may be in for a surprise exit should United’s resurgence attain the comingfrom-behind attitude at Parc De Princess; also, since Champions League rarely fails to surprise. Ole may still make the managerial post his own despite a round of 16 exit since this is the first time since Fergie’s departure that United feels like the one we have known and grown with. If there is one thing that only Solskjaer can offer to United, it is his never-knowing-when-togive-up attitude as a player, which he has instilled in his players too; and which is more than enough to climb a mountain like overturning the first leg deficit, amidst other challenges.