OLE’S ON BORROWED TIME IF NEXT SEASON STARTS SLOW

WHEN ole Gunnar Solskjaer was not given the Manchester united job on a permanent basis after masterminding a brilliant victory over Paris Saint-Germain, it felt like the club were yet to be convinced that he was the right man.

Solskjaer had been the perfect stop-gap, restoring confidence to a group of poorly performing players and firing them back into contention for Champions League qualification.

i argued in this column that, should united fail to finish in the top four, there would be serious question marks over whether Solskjaer could challenge Manchester City or Liverpool next season.

Despite defeats by arsenal and Wolves, he was given the job in March. That blip has become a slump, sparking a run of two wins in 11 games.

Now, united are back where they started when Solskjaer (right) took over — in sixth place. The dismal form has exposed the extent of the rebuilding task ahead. This will be no quick fix. i went through something similar at Liverpool in the Nineties when so many mistakes were made to try to restore the club to their former glories. They are still 29 years without a league championship. Paul Pogba’s future is top of the agenda. in recent months it has looked like Pogba’s head has been turned. Solskjaer must decide if he wants to keep him. Some £ 744million has been splashed out on a group of Harlem Globetrotters who do not play like a team. The dressing room is overrun by egos and is in need of an overhaul. Throwing more money at the situation will not solve this. united need players they can build a team around, not mercenaries chasing big contracts. These are all big decisions to make for someone who, having managed Molde and Cardiff, has little experience at the helm of a top club.

i do not for one minute want Solskjaer to fail but already it feels like the scale of the job could be too big for him.

We do not know if united tried to lure Mauricio Pochettino from Tottenham but executive vice- chairman Ed Woodward must be wondering if he has made a mistake.

Solskjaer has been entrusted with one of the biggest brands in world sport. it is now six years and counting since united last won the Premier League title.

regardless of the size of the task at hand, he will be under immense pressure should united be several points off the pace and languishing in sixth place again come october.

That scenario would present Woodward and the united board with an unthinkable decision. The last thing they will want to do is to sack a club legend who is adored by the fans.

united are limping into next season. Should they start slowly, Solskjaer will be on borrowed time.