Ole: Quality of other coaches no excuse for form
OLE Gunnar Solskjaer insists it is not an excuse that United are competing against three of the world’s best coaches simultaneously.
Liverpool, City and Chelsea are all coached by three Champions League-winning coaches - Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola and Thomas Tuchel - and the trio are top of the Premier League table on 22 points, 21 points and 20 points.
United are seventh on 14 points following the galling 5-0 thrashing by Liverpool at Old Trafford - their worst-ever home defeat to their biggest rival.
Klopp guided Liverpool to Champions League and Premier League triumphs in successive seasons, Guardiola has led City to three league titles since he joined the club in 2016 while Tuchel took Chelsea to Champions League glory just four months into his tenure.
United failed to lure Guardiola and then Klopp to the club following managerial changes and did not approach Tuchel when he was available following his dismissal by Paris Saint-Germain last season. Solskjaer received a new three-year contract in July and that decision has been derided amid United’s slump in form.
They have suffered five defeats in their last nine games across all competitions and have lost three of their last four in the league, conceding 11 goals in that period.
Although Solskjaer’s position is becoming increasingly uncertain, he dismissed the suggestion he was unfortunate to be pitted against such intense competition.
“No, the time is now,” Solskjaer said. “And Manchester United has had tough times, difficult times before, and we’ve always bounced back and taken on challenges.
“Last season, yep, we’re second, this season we’ve started badly, we’ve hit a brick wall and you’ve got to get through that one, start building the performances, start building results, start with a clean sheet and see where that takes us to the end of the season.”