OLE’S PROBLEMS PILE UP
Rashford a moody presence, coach’s training sessions questioned... and the list goes on
AFTER Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and a number of his players got off the train from London at Stockport station on Sunday night, assistant boss Mike Phelan was one of their contingent who found themselves stuck in the car park owing to a problem at the front of the queue.
It is tempting to offer it as a wholly appropriate analogy for a club struggling to move forward, particularly as United had done so much to underline the problem at West Ham several hours earlier. Not so much ‘Ole’s at the wheel’ as ‘Ole and Co are stuck in reverse’.
Not for the first time in recent years, it was a long and rather miserable journey back from the capital for United following an abject 2-0 defeat at the London Stadium. Not as miserable as it had been known to be under Jose Mourinho, who curiously seemed more adept at identifying United’s problems during a couple of hours in the Sky Sports studio than he did in two and a half years as manager.
Typically, Solskjaer tried to stay positive, just as he has throughout a difficult start to the season. There was no recrimination, no inquest, just as there had been no desire to berate his injury-hit team at West Ham.
“He told the players a few home truths afterwards, but there were no b ****** ings,” revealed one source on Monday.
There is an acceptance at United that Solskjaer is overseeing a long-term rebuild and patience is required.
In the short-term, he is having to tackle serious injury problems after Marcus Rashford joined Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial, Luke Shaw, Eric Bailly and Mason Greenwood on the sidelines, leaving midfielder Jesse Lingard to lead the attack for the final half hour against West Ham.
But there are deeper issues developing at Old Trafford that cannot be ignored.
Above all, a squad branded by Graeme Souness as United’s worst in the Premier League era is clearly not good enough.
Patrice Evra has been studying for his coaching badges at Carrington recently and is said to be shocked by the drop in standards since he left.
The Frenchman is understood to share the view of some at United that there are too many staff around the first team these days and as a result the players are pampered.
Evra can also see the lack of quality and leadership in this United squad, as can the players themselves. The feeling in the camp was that United got away with one by beating Leicester 1-0 at home 10 days ago before reality bit again at West Ham.
There are concerns over several areas behind the scenes. For instance, some players harbour reservations over Kieran McKenna having such a key role in firstteam training little more than a year after being promoted from the Under 18s. His sessions are thought by some to be more suited to the academy.
United’s lethargy on Sunday also alarmed coaching staff who have spent the summer whipping the players into shape after admitting that fitness levels were not good enough when Solskjaer replaced Mourinho in December.
Rashford pulled up with a groin injury after an hour and United’s sports science department are said to be perturbed by the number of players breaking down so early in the season given that most of them are non-contact injuries.
Rashford’s downcast mood around the club has been noted for some time during a period in which his form has dipped with only one goal from open play in 15 games.
It has raised more questions over United’s decision to allow Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez to leave this summer without signing a replacement striker, instead relying on young forwards such as Greenwood, Tahith Chong and Angel Gomes, who may not be ready to make the step up yet.
On more than one occasion at the London Stadium, the cameras focused on Old Trafford chief Ed Woodward in the directors’ box as former United defender Gary Neville criticised the club’s transfer policy on commentary.
Such is the focus on Woodward these days, it was later alleged on social media that he turned to Phil Jones and said, ‘We’re on camera, stop’, after he heard the player muttering along to the West Ham fans taunting Solskjaer with a chorus of, ‘You’re getting sacked in the morning’.
Sources close to Jones dismissed those suggestions on Monday night, while Woodward is adamant that he was talking to another member of staff and asked, ‘Has he been booked, Diop?’ following a foul by the West Ham player.
It will not be the last time United are forced to defend themselves in the difficult period that lies ahead. Things are likely to get worse before Solskjaer can make them any better.
Meanwhile, United announced record revenues of £627 million (RM3.3 billion) yesterday. However, United, who failed to qualify for the Champions League last season, forecast revenue of between £560 million and £580 million next year.