UNITED’S HEIR OF OPTIMISM
After a roller-coaster year in full-time charge, a selfless, positive Solskjaer is finally emerging as the true successor to the great Sir Alex Ferguson
AFTER three ill-fated and short-lived managerial appointments, Ed Woodward appears to have got it right with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Tomorrow marks a year since Solskjaer was made Manchester United’s permanent boss, the former striker having overseen a radical overhaul which was starting to yield results when the season was suspended.
When football ground to a halt a fortnight ago, United were unbeaten in 11 games, winning eight, scoring 29 and conceding just two, along with nine clean sheets.
From their worst start to a league campaign for 30 years, Solskjaer’s approach, on and off the field, appeared to have been vindicated, the doubters silenced by the verve and consistency of United’s play.
The central theme of his time in charge has been a willingness to always put the club before his own interests, in contrast to his predecessor, Jose Mourinho, above.
Where Mourinho would hang players and Woodward out to dry to further his own agenda, Solskjaer has built trust.
One such example came after United’s 0-0 draw at home to Wolves on February 1, when Anthony
Martial looked as though he did not care if he scored or not. Solskjaer refused to publicly berate his striker, saving any criticism for behind closed doors, and he was vindicated, with Martial scoring four goals in his next six games.
Solskjaer’s United revolution has been a nod to his former manager and mentor Sir Alex Ferguson’s famed commitment to youth.
He jettisoned Antonio Valencia, Marouane Fellani, Chris Smalling, Ashley Young, Alexis Sanchez, Ander Herrera, Marcos Rojo, Matteo Darmian and Romelu Lukaku, replacing them with younger, more dynamic and energetic players, ready to give their all for United.
In came Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Daniel James and Harry Maguire, while Mason Greenwood and Brandon Williams were promoted from the youth ranks, and Bruno Fernandes – an instant success who transformed the side – was recruited in January. It is early days and Solskjaer may yet fall victim to the same fate as his predecessors if results go awry and United fall away when football resumes.
He has embarked on a process that will ultimately benefit United and has it right on almost every call, suggesting he can take United back to somewhere near to their glorious past under Ferguson.
Three times this season he has beaten Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, including a first league double for a decade.
There are still major tests ahead for Solskjaer, not least how he handles the ongoing Paul Pogba saga, with United’s £89million club-record signing still desperate to leave.
The summer is another huge one for United in the transfer market, with Jadon Sancho, Jack Grealish and James Maddison among their targets.
But with Ole at the wheel, United fans have hope of emerging from the bleak postFerguson period into a bright new era.