Solskjaer back in familiar role as United’s rescuer
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER will find himself in familiar territory in more ways than one when he takes charge of Manchester United for the first time at Cardiff City on Saturday.
So often previous United manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s go-to substitute when things were going wrong on the pitch the Norwegian now faces another rescue act. The 45-year-old was named as caretaker manager by the troubled Old Trafford club on Wednesday in the wake of Jose Mourinho’s sacking 24 hours earlier.
The final straw for United’s hierarchy was a 3-1 defeat by Premier League leaders Liverpool which left United 19 points off the top and 11 points away from fourth-placed Chelsea.
Former striker Solskjaer’s immediate focus will be three points at Cardiff, who he managed for eight months in 2014, but could not keep them in the top flight before being sacked at the start of the following campaign.
Solskjaer, had a handy knack of scoring goals as an impact substitute during 11 years at Old Trafford, with many of his 126 strikes arriving after starting the match on the bench.
Having the same kind of influence while sat in a dugout alongside Mike Phelan, who was named as his assistant on Wednesday, will be the biggest test yet of Solskjaer’s lesser-known managerial capabilities.
While he managed to win successive Norwegian titles for Molde in 2011 and 2012, reviving a United side in disarray after their worst start for 28 years is a big step up. On the plus side, after winning six league titles and two FA Cups with United, as well as the Champions League, he knows exactly the kind of attacking football the fans crave but which was in short supply under Mourinho this season.
Sitting just above the relegation zone in 16th place Cardiff are unlikely to put out the welcome mat for their old boss, especially as he hardly distinguished himself while in charge. With three successive home wins Neil Warnock’s side will also fancy their chances of ruining Solskjaer’s return.
In the likes of Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford, Solskjaer has more quality at his disposal than when he was at Cardiff. Yet conjuring up a style of football that gets the best out of United’s attacking options while shoring up a leaky rearguard is what he will be judged on.
Much of the focus will be on United at the weekend, but leaders Liverpool have a gilt-edged opportunity to open a four-point gap over Manchester City when they travel to Wolverhampton Wanderers tonight.
Second-placed City are at home to Crystal Palace in 15th tomorrow, when Chelsea entertain Leicester City and fifth-placed Arsenal host struggling Burnley.
Third-placed Tottenham Hotspur will hope to keep within touching distance of Liverpool and City as they travel to Everton. | Reuters IT is now or never for Maritzburg United coach, Fadlu Davids.
He has to beat Baroka FC at Harry Gwala Stadium in a PSL tussle tomorrow and save his job.
The Team of Choice are languishing at the bottom of the table and the owners of the team are in panic mode. All they want is victory tomorrow, otherwise Davids will be sent packing.
Baroka are also struggling in the league. They might have won the Telkom Knockout against Orlando Pirates, but they are bottom of the standings. It is going to be a battle of the strugglers tomorrow. Both teams are level on 11 points. Baroka are 16th, while Maritzburg are 15th.
Davids, knows very well that his future hangs on this particular encounter. His team haven’t won any of their last eight league games. They have lost two and drawn six matches. Davids enjoyed a sparkling start in to his tenure as Maritzburg head coach last season. They reached the semi-finals of the MTN8, Nedbank Cup final and finished fourth in the league.
The Team of Choice have endured turbulent times this season. They have only registered one victory in the league this season. Maritzburg haven’t won since September.
Worst of all is that they haven’t won at home. They are still searching for that elusive first home victory. They have lost one game and drawn six encounters. Golden Arrows defeated the Team of Choice in the opening fixture of the season. They have since shared the spoils with Kaizer Chiefs, Wits, Cape Town City, Highlands Park, Chippa United and Black Leopards.
Davids and his troops simply have to deliver the goods at home tomorrow. To do that they need to score goals something they haven’t done consistently this season. The Team of Choice have only scored five goals. That is the least by any side in the league. They need to improve that return in front of goal if they want to move out of the relegation zone. Defensively they have been decent. Maritzburg have conceded nine goals. They can’t afford another slip up tomorrow. |