Solskjaer’s great start as caretaker manager should make Man United’s decision an easy one

MANCHESTER United will have an easy managerial decision if caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer keeps building on his splendid start at Old Trafford, former England manager Steve McClaren has said.

Having replaced José Mourinho in December, Solskjaer has collected seven wins and a draw in the Premier League to guide a rejuvenated United to within two points of the top four.

United will appoint a new permanent manager at the end of the season and McClaren, who coached Solskjaer during United’s treble-winning campaign as Alex Ferguson’s assistant in 1999, said the Norwegian had exceeded expectations under pressure.

“I think everyone was astonished at the appointment,” said McClaren, who is in charge of Queens Park Rangers. “(But) I know Ole well. He’s a thinker and he’s intelligent.

“They’ve played exciting, attacking, Manchester United old traditional football. And if it continues to work, I think United will have an easy decision to make at the end of the season.”

After starting with a relatively comfortable run of fixtures, Solskjaer’s United showed tactical maturity in away wins over Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City, as well as a commanding FA Cup fourth-round win away at Arsenal.

Solskjaer’s former teammate Jordi Cruyff said the former Cardiff manager had revived United by “unblocking the minds of the players”.