City will never be in the mess United are in with Solskjaer
BLUES WILL HAVE PLANS IN PLACE WHEN PEP LEAVES
‘OLE’S at the wheel’ was being sung loud and proud at Old Trafford during the derby - but not from the Stretford End.
Instead, it was the jubilant City fans endorsing under-pressure United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, asking him to give them a wave, and calling for the Norwegian to get ‘five more years.’
The Reds were completely inept against a relentless Blues side.
Liverpool dished out a similarly-one-sided result a fortnight before and United’s run of one win in six league games - and just four from their last 13 in all competitions - has seen the feeling on Solskjaer start to turn.
Across town at the Etihad, City’s situation couldn’t be more contrasting. In Pep Guardiola, they have a quality manager with the results and silverware to show for it.
And in the boardroom, Blues fans can be assured there is a long-term progression plan for the day supporters would prefer not to think about - when Guardiola leaves.
Under contract until 2023 having signed a new contract last year, the Catalan is firm in his stance that he intends to fulfil the contracts he signs. He also accepts that even he is not immune to a bad run of results, and that his fate is ultimately in the hands of chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak and owner Sheikh Mansour.
And City fans know that despite the close relationship between Guardiola, Khaldoon, and director of football Txiki Begiristain, the club will have a plan in place for when the manager does leave.
If United have a similar plan regarding Solskjaer, they’re not showing it.
These are five mistakes United have made with Solskjaer that City fans know won’t happen with Guardiola...
■ PREMATURE CONTRACT RENEWAL
UNITED were too quick to hand Solskjaer a permanent contract after he took interim control from Jose Mourinho, and they were too quick to extend that in July until 2024. Even if they do want to sack Solskjaer three-and-a-half months later, that decision has put them in a far weaker position.
City, though, managed Guardiola’s renewal a year ago expertly. Neither side rushed into things, Khaldoon spent a productive weekend with Guardiola, and the pair came to an agreement after ensuring they were aligned on the next two years. It was a deal that suited everyone, and ensures Guardiola won’t overstay his welcome.
■ REACTING TO SPECIFIC RESULTS
AFTER City lost in the Champions League final - the game they wanted to win more than any other under Guardiola - Khaldoon spoke to the team the following day and thanked them for their efforts and assured them they would be back. There was no knee-jerk decisions, and the three disappointing slip-ups in the league this season haven’t weakened Guardiola’s position either.
Albeit those results weren’t against City’s two biggest rivals, but Guardiola knows his position is safe - unlike Solskjaer, who could always be just one bad defeat from the sack.
The Blues’ approach with Guardiola is long-term, United appear to be changing their minds from getting rid to standing by Solskjaer and the current midpoint isn’t helping anyone at Old Trafford.
■ REACTING TO FAN PRESSURE
UNITED hired Solskjaer, gave him a permanent deal and extended it to get a short-term boost in the mood of their fanbase, or a few thousand more social media impressions.
Now, with fans starting to turn on the Norwegian, United are in an awkward position where they can’t fall back on having a popular manager to distract from another issue.
City fans love Guardiola, but they know that both he and the club hierarchy are committed to their long-term project.
While he admits a few bad results could cost him his job, it’s unlikely the board would make any snap decisions based on a fluctuating mood among the supporters.
It would have to be a much longer-term issue for the fans to generate enough power to get rid of Guardiola.
■ NOT HAVING A REPLACEMENT LINED UP
SOLSKJAER survived the call for a sacking after the Liverpool game as United decided against hiring Antonio Conte, who has since joined Tottenham. Now, as his future continues to be debated, there is no obvious replacement despite the growing heat for a change to be made.
The Reds’ short-termism has left them scrapping for out-of-work or under-qualified managers again, when surely a more productive use of Solskjaer’s time in charge would have been for him to rebuild the team and pass it on to a successor who will continue that role. City and Guardiola will be well-aligned on their future plans, and fans can be assured there will be no scrapping when it comes to finding a new manager.
Like they did when hiring Guardiola, City will already be looking for potential future managers and the next appointment will be the culmination of a comprehensive process, rather than under a ‘sack now, replace later’ approach.
■ CHANGING PHILOSOPHY COMPLETELY
SOLSKJAER was hired as a transition manager, but United were reactive to some good spells and decided he might actually be more than just a stepping stone. Now, they are facing a situation where Solskjaer’s legacy will be to leave the club in disarray, rather than in a position of strength that he should have been leaving them in.
There are a number of possible candidates worthy of succeeding Guardiola, and whoever is the chosen one will inherit a squad comfortable on the ball, fluid in formation and at their best playing possession-based, attractive football.
City will know that Guardiola’s successor will have to continue his style and approach to some extent.