Solskjaer proved right to ditch Rom and put faith in young deadly duo
NOT many United fans were confident in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s decision to sell Romelu Lukaku last summer.
For that reason, you have to admire the gumption of the United boss. He’s always stuck by his own philosophies and last summer presented him a huge question that has since been answered in emphatic style.
But at the time, selling a star striker for £75m to another big European club was a major risk. Lukaku might not have been perfect for the style of football Solskjaer wanted to play at Old Trafford, but he guaranteed a certain number of goals – 42 of them across two seasons in all competitions, which isn’t bad by anyone’s standards. It has not been a habit of United in recent years, or ever, to sell their main men without replacing them.
Even after a few months of the season, Lukaku’s absence was being harshly felt.
United struggled for goals, especially when Anthony Martial went down with a thigh injury and Marcus Rashford struggled in a central role. In 12 consecutive matches, between August 19 and October 27, United failed to score more than one goal in a game. Twice they failed to score entirely, losing disappointingly away at West Ham and Newcastle where their attacking threat was next to nothing.
Solskjaer’s pre-season prediction that Martial and Rashford were ready to step up was beginning to look a little foolish.
“Both Anthony and Marcus played, I don’t know how many games, and have had so many years in this football club and this team,” Solskjaer had said. “And I expect them to be leading stars.”
But then again, Rashford and Martial had barely been given the chance to play together, because of the Frenchman’s injury. And without much service from midfield, scoring a hatful of goals was a tall order. Time would tell.
Slowly and surely, the picture began to look rosier, thanks in part to the impact of Mason Greenwood and Daniel James, who contributed to the overall attacking effort.
Rashford’s form also improved as Martial returned to the side and the two struck up a relationship. Yet still United lay in seventh or eighth position and their attack wasn’t quite functioning as it should have been. Then came the watershed moment: the arrivals of Bruno Fernandes and Odion Ighalo in January. Suddenly, Martial had two things that hadn’t been guaranteed before: a supply of assists from a creative midfielder who could dominate in the No.10 role; and able support from an experience backup striker. Even a serious back injury to Rashford, who is yet to play alongside either man, couldn’t slow down the United attack. Before the break in the season, due to the coronavirus pandemic, United were scoring freely – 28 goals in their last 11 games. Fernandes and Ighalo have both made huge impacts.
And the best part is still to come – adding Rashford into that mix. The improvements United made with an attack comprising Martial, Fernandes and Ighalo was so
Both Anthony and Marcus have had many years at this club. I expect them to be leading stars
Solskjaer
noticeable, however, that it forced Rio Ferdinand to issue a challenge to the forward before the season broke off. He warned the France striker that his place could be in doubt if Ighalo’s scoring streak continued and Rashford returned.
“In big clubs you’ve got to fight, that’s it,” said the former United defender.
“That’s all it boils down to. Can you fight for your position? That’s it.
“You’ve got to accept there’s going to be an opportunity for someone else to come in and play.
“But then your performances have got to outweigh everything. You’ve got to make sure the manager knows.”
It’s turned from a situation where there was no such thing as competition for spots, where United were hanging their hats on two young players who hadn’t been trusted by former boss Jose Mourinho, to one where Solskjaer’s theory has been proven right.
Both Rashford and Martial have beaten their previous best seasons for United in terms of goal-scoring. Rashford is on 20 for the campaign and Martial 16 (in all competitions).
Martial has been the reliable centre-forward that Solskjaer wanted when he sold Lukaku.
And when Rashford returns, with Ighalo and Fernandes in tow, United will truly be an attacking collective when the season resumes.