United’s harsh reality check?

I t began to look like the Manchester United of old when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was brought in as interim manager, with the team playing attacking football and putting the ball in the back of the net. Star players such as Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford were at their scintillating best, but just a month after the Red Devils’ historic round of 16 comeback against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League, the team appears to be back in the sunken place, with performances reminiscent of their time under Jose Mourinho, or at least the months leading to his sacking. The team needs a revamping, but at what cost? Players will go, players will arrive, but will the problems off the field be solved? Soccer Laduma’s international team discusses the big issues facing Solskjaer at Old Trafford. No more honeymoon

It’s been a torrid few weeks for Manchester United, having lost seven matches in the past month-and-a-half. Following a rampant start under then interim boss Solskjaer, whose arrival was initially greeted with uncertainty, United have been hit with a harsh reality check, with their 2-0 loss to Arsenal at the Emirates in March kicking off a long run of poor results. A dull and uninspired performance away at Wolverhampton Wanderers followed a week later in the FA Cup, a match United lost 2-1, but in truth, that scoreline doesn’t tell the story of just how poorly they played. They did beat Watford in the next game, but then lost 2-1 to Wolves again – this time in the Premier League – before suffering a home defeat to FC Barcelona in their UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg tie. The Red Devils unconvincingly beat West Ham United three days later, albeit through two Paul Pogba penalties. Losses to Barca, Everton and Manchester City followed, seeing United fall to their worst run in 57 years. Nine games, seven losses. Jarring statements from Solskjaer in the wake of the Manchester Derby defeat seemingly brought the fire and desire back out of the players against Chelsea this past weekend, though all they walked away with from Old Trafford was a draw. When Solskjaer took charge, qualifying for the Champions League seemed an impossible task, but considering the team’s 12-match unbeaten run in the Premier League, during which a brand of football reminiscent of United under legendary boss Sir Alex Ferguson was evident, the players and staff will feel disappointed to not have a top four place secured already.

Was Solskjaer given the job too soon?

The Red Devils made a bold move with the permanent appointment of Solskjaer at the club in March. Given that the Norwegian had shattered a number of club records during his stint as caretaker manager, winning a total of 14 games from 19 in all competitions, many – including United’s board of directors – felt that the former United talisman had earned himself the permanent job.

The former Molde manager passed his trial run with flying colours, winning over the trust of the club’s fans, the media and his own players. However, given the benefit of hindsight, there is a sense that the club’s hierarchy may not only have acted too hastily in his appointment, but bowed to external pressure in allowing him to take over the reins. As apposed to waiting until the end of the season.

When Solskjaer took over from Jose Mourinho as caretaker coach in December 2018, the club’s board made it clear that a decision regarding the permanent appointment of a manager would be made at the end of the season. That promise was, however,not kept with the 46-year-old being handed a three-year deal six weeks before the end of the campaign. This is indicative of larger issues at hand within United: a clear lack of direction, leadership and planning by the club’s hierarchy. Tottenham Hotspur coach Mauricio Pochettino was rumoured to be the club’s first choice, until Solskjaer entered the fray with a number of impressive results. Despite Solskjaer’s glorious run, why did the club not stick to their word, consider all candidates and make an informed decision at the end of the campaign? Why did they rush his appointment?

As a result of what could be perceived as shortterm thinking and bowing to external pressure, United now face the possibility of not landing a place in the UEFA Champions League next season. Evidence of Solskjaer’s honeymoon period being over at the club can be seen in the number of unwanted records that he has set since getting the permanent job. While it may be difficult to pinpoint every single factor which has contributed to Solskjaer’s downward spiral at the club, the players at United should shoulder a large bit of responsibility for their club’s poor form. Simply put, a number of players within the team are just not good enough to perform week in and week out for a club of United’s magnitude. What’s worse is that the club has not had an overhaul of their squad since the days of Sir Alex Ferguson. Six players, namely David de Gea, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young and Jesse Lingard still remain at United from Ferguson’s last season with the club seven years ago, while Marcus Rashford was promoted from the youth team. Are all of them good enough to be regular starters for a club of United’s stature and ambitions?

Unless United dig deep to sort out their deeply-rooted issues, both off and on the field of play, Solskjaer – or any other manager for that matter – will eventually inevitably become a scapegoat once results do not go in the club’s favour.

Problems off the pitch

For 10 years, specifically from 2003 to 2013, Ferguson shared a healthy and thriving working relationship with former chief executive David Gill. During Gill’s decade at Manchester United, essential signings such as Wayne Rooney, Nemanja Vidic and David de Gea, among others, were made to ensure success. They were players brought in to fulfil a vision for the club. Today, it appears as if United are in the midst of a major disorientation period. New contracts have been handed out to perhaps the most average players in the squad in the likes of Smalling, Jones and Young, while some of the most highly-rated players in the side, such as Ander Herrera, De Gea and Marcus Rashford, are yet to commit their futures to the club. Getting one up on Manchester City in the signing of Alexis Sanchez also seemed significant at the time, but it’s Pep Guardiola laughing last. The board threw money his way, changing the Chilean’s mind from City to United, but they are now stuck with the difficult task of offloading the former highest-paid player in the league, who often just warms United’s bench. Yet another high-profile player to flop at the 20-time English champions since Ferguson’s retirement, with no indication his situation will improve. The person bearing the brunt of the mistakes, such as the recruitment of Sanchez, allowing Herrera to get within six months of the end of his contract, giving Solskjaer the job permanently when it was perhaps needless, is Ed Woodward. The 47-year-old was Gill’s successor in 2013, and got life at United off to a bad start when he managed just one signing in his first transfer window at the club. That player was Marouane Fellaini, a player many pundits and supporters alike did not feel was ever the right fit for the Red Devils, despite the Belgian having previously worked with David Moyes. The next manager appointed by Woodward, Louis van Gaal, later publicly complained about the club’s commercial activities, which is what the executive vice-chairman’s critics believe he prioritises, given that he took charge of all commercial and media operations at the club in 2007. Questions were asked again when Jose Mourinho was handed a new three-year deal halfway through last season when it was needless. At the time of his extension, United weren’t playing the most delightful brand of football, while the Portuguese tactician’s relationships with certain players in the squad had begun to sour. Rumours then claimed Woodward refused to go after Mourinho’s transfer targets in the transfer window leading up to this campaign – strange considering he had previously placed his trust in the manager.