Europa rejig could work in Ole’s favour...
IF there is one area where Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has consistently excelled as United manager so far it is in preparing his side for one-off occasions.
While inconsistency has dogged the Reds in the Premier League, at least until recently, Solskjaer has often managed to raise his side to get results in cup competitions and in the biggest of domestic fixtures.
It may well be that the Norwegian gets the chance to prove his ability to set up his team to thrive in oneoff, knockout matches again if the 2019/20 season resumes, with a change to the calendar that could require just that attribute.
United are as good as through to the Europa League quarter-finals, holding a 5-0 lead after the first leg of the last-32 tie against LASK Linz. Now there is talk that UEFA might change the quarter-final and semifinal to one leg to try and squeeze the games in, with the possibility of the semi-finals and final all taking place in Gdansk over three or four days.
This is just one suggestion as to how to finish this season and the reality is so much about these proposals remain unknown.
Nobody knows how long Europe is going to remain in the grip of the coronavirus pandemic, which continues to claim lives at a frightening rate.
That is the priority at the moment, but UEFA and domestic associations have to at least try and figure out some loose proposals for finishing competitions, depending on when the action can resume.
A one-leg Europa League could be the answer and it might suit United, who have tended to do well in cup competitions under Solskjaer.
Only City, Barcelona and Wolves have knocked Solskjaer’s United out of cup competitions so far and the list of scalps is impressive.
United have won twice against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in cup competitions, as well as in the league, and won against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the FA Cup last season, while nobody will forget the comeback win against Paris
Saint-Germain anytime soon. This season United got revenge against Wolves after earning a draw at Molineux this time and forcing a replay, while even in defeat in the Carabao Cup semifinal there was a second leg win at the Etihad against City.
There has also been a Premier League win at the Etihad this season, as well as a tactically clever performance against Liverpool at Old Trafford. In the Europa League United have lost just one of nine games, when they played a very young side against Astana in Kazakhstan.
Time and again Solskjaer has proved he has the tactical acumen to come up with plans to help his side in crucial games. He’s so often managed to get a result when he has needed it most.
A lot of these results have been based around the ability to play on the counter attack, but there have been tactical innovations too, such as the split forwards and a back
Solskjaer has proved he has the tactical acumen to come up with plans to help his side in crucial games
Tyrone Marshall
three first seen to best effect against Liverpool but now a regular option against the biggest sides.
Now United have begun to add quality and consistency to their game, and if the Europa League does get back underway this season Solskjaer will be confident of his side’s chances.
As usual, there are some formidable names left in the Europa League. Inter Milan are still there, Roma and Sevilla face each other in the last-16, Shakhtar Donetsk are always difficult, familiar foes Wolves continue to be a threat, as do German side Bayer Leverkusen, who were in great form before football went into lockdown.
A lot of these sides will fancy their own chances of success in the Europa League and they have plenty to gain from the competition resuming, with a place in the Champions League for the winners.
If it does get back underway as a one-leg, one-off competition, it might just play into United’s hands.