Danny Murphy on Solskjaer, United’s new flexible friend
Not just a motivator, Solskjaer is proving master tactician, too
IEXPECTED Manchester United to improve and play with more freedom once Jose Mourinho had left the building, but I have to be honest and say the level of tactical awareness shown by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and an ability to change things during matches has been a big surprise.
He’s proven himself very savvy in finding the right balance between bringing back the United tradition of going out to win games but also adapting to the opposition when required, so that it’s not overly cavalier.
When I use the phrase ‘tactical awareness’, I don’t just mean which formation you set up with — though Solskjaer’s United can mix it up from a 4-3-3 to a midfield diamond and split strikers.
What Solskjaer has done is impose a different philosophy at the club and create an atmosphere where players are usually encouraged to break forward, try things, and not feel they will get a hairdryer if it doesn’t come off. The clever part is that a happier bunch of players are then more accepting if you ask them to perform a sacrificial role for the team.
I’m t hi nki ng a bout Romelu Lukaku’s selflessness as a wide player recently trying to stop Liverpool’s full- backs when United were stricken by injuries at Old Trafford. He was happy to do it because he knew that wouldn’t be his job every week. The response? Six goals in three games including a double in the famous win against PSG on Wednesday night. I bet Arsenal aren’t looking forward to seeing him today!
The best example of Solskjaer being far more than a nice guy who smiles a lot and once played for United came at Tottenham. United had been a 4-3-3 in previous games against lesser opposition, able to get on the front foot.
But at Wembley against Spurs, he set up a midfield diamond with Nemanja Matic at the base and Jesse Lingard at the top. The forwards, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial, pulled out wide to exploit the space in behind Tottenham’s attacking full-backs rather than either playing as an orthodox No 9. It’s exactly how the winning goal was scored — Rashford running on to Paul Pogba’s pass in that space.
Even with injuries, Solskjaer has the squad who can adjust to exploit opposition weaknesses. Rashford and Lukaku might not play as wide today but if they occupy the space between Arsenal’s two centre-halves and the full- backs, it will cause Unai Emery a real problem — does Laurent Koscielny hold his line or move out, do the full-backs come inside to stop the danger?
Lukaku’s hold-up play has been criticised in the past but I saw at the World Cup when he was playing for Belgium against Brazil that he can be fantastic starting from a slightly wider position. He was used on the right when United beat Arsenal 3-1 in the FA Cup in January, looking for the swift counter. Lukaku’s run and cross for Lingard’s second goal was one of the highlights of the evening.
Against Liverpool, Solskjaer managed to get United a valuable point in their Champions League fight, despite losing Ander Herrera and Juan Mata to injuries in the first half. Lukaku and Pogba worked tirelessly to stifle Liverpool — they realised Solskjaer is by instinct an attacking manager, but that needs must at times.
The win in Paris a few days ago was fortunate in terms of possession and chances but with nine injuries and Pogba suspended, it took intelligence from the manager and motivational powers to make players such as Ander Pereira and Fred, rarely given a chance by Mourinho, believe they could do it. You can see there is a confidence about the United camp reminiscent of the old days and huge credit has to be given to coaches Mike Phelan and Michael Carrick in that as well.
All the talk a few months ago was that United’s central defenders were hopeless regardless of who the manager was. I don’t hear many complaints at the moment about Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof, who have played their part in the team’s success.
Football changes quickly and we don’t know if United will finish in the top four or win a trophy this season. It’s very tight in the Premier League with Spurs, Chelsea and Arsenal around them; they have a tough FA Cup quarter-final at Wolves coming up and the Champions League is obviously very difficult to win.
I don’t see the wheels coming off but regardless of whether United win silverware or qualify for the Champions League next season, I think Solskjaer has done enough to be given the chance in the longer term.
That doesn’t mean there has to be
an announcement right away. The feelgood factor at United is so high that it doesn’t need lifting any further. In fact, confirmation now would start a new kind of hype; which players will Solskjaer bring in, which ones doesn’t he want, all that stuff. Behind the scenes, they should tell Ole he’s their man for the next season and beyond, but publicly, just carry on as they are for now. It’s working so far!
Manchester United always need to strike the balance between superstars and academy kids coming through. Solskjaer gets that through his long association with the club. He can inspire Pogba and Rashford and Lukaku and also have the courage to throw on 17-year-old Mason Greenwood for his debut in a massive Champions League tie. I know a lot of that was due to injuries but it still takes a certain mindset to go through with it.
I had Norwegian team-mates such as John Arne Riise and Brede Hangland who spoke about Solskjaer in glowing terms. So I knew he had the personality to get the United players onside in the short term. What I realise now is he’s got the coaching expertise to back it up.