In just 365 days as permanent boss, Ole has come into United with a mission to put club before himself.. to trust his players rather than hang them out to dry and invest in players with hunger but without ego
AFTER three ill-fated managerial appointments, Ed Woodward would appear to have finally got it right with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Tomorrow marks a year since he 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 in all competitions, 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, both on and off the field, appeared vindicated, the doubters silenced by the verve and consistency of United’s play. The central theme of Solskjaer’s time in charge has been altruism, a willingness to always put the club before his own interests, in complete contrast to his predecessor, Jose Mourinho.
Where Mourinho would hang players and Woodward out to dry to further his own agenda, Solskjaer has sought to engender trust with both, an approach that has so far paid off.
One such example came after the 0-0 draw at home to Wolves on February 1, when Anthony Martial was at his most frustrating, missing chances and looking as though he did not care if he scored or not.
Mourinho would no doubt have outed Martial, as he often did during his two-and-a-half -year spell, whereas Solskjaer refused to publicly berate his striker, saving any criticism for behind closed doors.
That approach was vindicated, with Martial scoring four goals in his next six games. The Norwegian’s United revolution has been a nod to his former manager and mentor Sir Alex Ferguson’s famed commitment to investing in younger players with hunger, but without ego.
Solskjaer ditched Antonio Valencia, Marouane Fellaini, 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 WanBissaka, Daniel
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James and Harry Maguire, while Mason Greenwood and Brandon Williams were promoted from the youth ranks, and Bruno Fernandes – an instant success, who has transformed the team – recruited in January.
Having spent the years since Ferguson’s departure with no clear strategy, in terms of managerial or player recruitment, United finally seemed to have hit upon the right formula.
Of course, it is still early days and Solskjaer may yet fall victim to the same fate as his predecessors, if United fall away when football eventually resumes, particularly with the spectre of Mauricio Pochettino looming large over him.
Solskjaer has embarked on a necessary process that will ultimately benefit United and, even if he should not end up in the Old Trafford job for the long haul, his successor, whoever that may be. But for the moment at least,