Ole’s in charge, not Ferguson
SIR ALEX FERGUSON was present at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, but was powerless as Manchester United fell to their first league defeat since December 16. There is a reason for that: Ferguson does not manage Manchester United. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer does. So while it is charming that the caretaker manager frequently namechecks his old boss, the idea of a Ferguson effect has been very much overplayed. In France last week, Solskjaer changed his strategy three times in the game, including a masterful switch to two right backs — one operating conventionally, the other more as a wing-back — that shut down Paris Saint-Germain after half time. That switch wasn’t down to Ferguson, no more than any other of Solskjaer’s impressive calls. Players that were on the way out have been revitalised, others have revealed their true selves. To credit Ferguson’s inspiration reminds of the time Sergio Garcia won the Masters, but victory was somehow awarded to the ghost of Seve Ballesteros. Even Garcia got frustrated with the mythologising after a while. Solskjaer would be a fool not to seek Ferguson’s counsel, but it is even more irrational to think the young coach merely dangles on his strings.