Ole’s delivered... now it’s time United board let him put his own stamp on the team
FAIR play to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, he’s proved plenty of people wrong — including me!
I said earlier in the season there was huge pressure on him to not only demonstrate he was up to the massive job of leading Manchester United, but also show the temperament and experience to cope with the world watching his every move.
Well, there have been plenty of questions since then – and he’s answered almost all of them. And that now gives him the right to demand full backing from his board and the chance to put his imprint on the team and future of the club.
That may sound strange when he’s already apparently made signings and built a young, quick, athletic team who can play some really attractive football.
I’d question, though, how many of the signings have been his? From the outside, it looks as if the players who have been brought in on his watch were not necessarily his. Donny van de Beek tells you that. Alex Telles, too.
Now, United find themselves at an interesting crossroads. They have definitely improved under Solskjaer – and they have an identity now as a team – where I questioned even earlier this season if the manager really had a style and philosophy.
A comfortable second in the Premier League is a decent return on this season and a proper improvement on last season when they had to win their final league game to even make the Champions League.
So they are up there now, still a long way off Manchester City, clearly and I’d argue that if Liverpool come back next season when they get Virgil van Dijk back, then they would be a long way off my old club, too.
But they are now within striking distance... and that’s why this summer will be so vital to the club. If United’s owners truly believe in their manager and think he is absolutely the right man for the job, then they have to back him. Period.
It’s a tough time for clubs, but with fans coming back next season now looking a real prospect rather than a fantasy, it is probably time for
United to dust off their cheque book.
They will never catch
City with the current squad, I’m sure we can all agree on that.
But two or three, maybe four, top-quality signings in key areas – another goalscoring striker, a dominant midfielder, another centre-half, and one more attacking full-back with real quality in delivery – and they’d be right there. That would give them the depth they lack, so long as they kept hold of the best players currently in the squad. The depth to challenge City and Liverpool, if they are not permanently scarred by this season’s experience.
So do they let Solskjaer make the decisions on those players, when we’re talking spending that would surely reach the 100s of millions? They have to, or get rid and get someone they will let loose.
As I said, he’s done all he can, answered all the questions. If he wins a trophy this season too, then it will strengthen his case further - and who would bet against them winning the Europa League now?
There’s one caveat.
I said he’s answered the questions – and he has.
But the harsh fact is that there are always questions at a club on the biggest stage. Ask Jurgen Klopp this season. Ask Pep Guardiola last season. So just because he’s made his case as well as he possibly can, Ole will know there will be more questions.
If he gets to spend the money on the players he wants, there will be plenty of questions about that.
If he is able to offload Paul Pogba, as I suspect he’d like to, and bring in a replacement who fits better into his team, the same.
The questions never stop at United. But, compared to Jose Mourinho who he comes up against this weekend, those questions are nowhere near as strong, or searching.
And that shows he now deserves the backing required to take the club to the next level... the final level.
If the owners truly believe in their manager, then they have to back him. Period.