Following the recent poor run of results, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has all but been sacked by Manchester United after three years in charge. The Norwegian is set to become the fourth manager to be sacked since Sir Alex Ferguson's departure in 2013. We've been talking about the final straw for a while now, and the ship has finally sunk. Everyone has been desperate to see Solskjaer succeed as a long-term manager, but unfortunately that’s fallen short of the mark.
Some United players and staff were reportedly in tears after the crushing loss to Watford yesterday, with many players instantly led to believe that it was Solskjaer's last game as manager of the club. Emergency talks took place for around five hours following the match and, after the multiple hours of discussions, it emerged from the media that a mutual agreement had been reached for the club to part ways with Solskjaer subject to approval from Joel Glazer.
Darren Fletcher could be assisted by Michael Carrick on an interim basis against Villarreal on Tuesday and possibly at Stamford Bridge next weekend, with the latter’s position at the club remaining intact as of now. Keeping some of the same unsuccessful coaches from under Jose Mourinho through Solskjaer's tenure is very dubious. However, Solskjaer's assistant Mike Phelan does seem to be heading for the exit door.
Ultimately, the decision had to be taken to sack Solskjaer. The performances and conjunct results have been unacceptable of late, with a clear lack of idea coming to the fore from the manager (and his coaching staff, don't forget). It has unfortunately seemed for a while now that the maximum level of progress possible under Solskjaer's reign had been reached. However, I'm not here to look at the negatives as such.
Although it has been a disappointment in the respect of no silverware, the club has risen again from the depths of toxicity when Solskjaer took charge.
The stint has ended in a sad manner, I have to say. Recent results cannot tarnish the reality of the level of progress Solskjaer has made in charge of the club, because he has dragged a bedraggled team from a place of extreme insalubrity to a place where they are fit to challenge again. If it wasn’t for the incompetence of the board giving him no protection of late, the fallout could have been far more harmonious. It’s been obvious he has been on borrowed time ever since the Liverpool game, and that’s down to the indecisiveness and overall inadequacy of the board.
Regardless of the manner in which his managerial tenure has ended, Solskjaer will forever remain a legend of this football club. He deserves only appreciation for his work over the last few years, as he has done his utmost to succeed throughout. Sadly, the limit has been reached - hence why change has been mutually decided as the best option for all parties.
It’s gutting to think that no silverware was obtained under Solskjaer, but the club has still come on leaps and bounds over the past three years. He came so close yet so far on numerous occasions. It’s admirable that he made five semi-finals at the helm since taking over in December 2018, but it’s always going to negatively effect people’s views that four losses were suffered at that particular stage of tournaments. Equally, the Europa League Final was a tough one to take - losing to an average Villarreal side on penalties after a rather woeful display over 120 minutes.
In terms of the league, third and second place finishes in his two full seasons respectively do signify certain progress at the club. Solskjaer steadied an incredibly unstable ship, cementing United as a stable Champions League side again. Nothing tangible has come from his reign, but there has certainly been marked development. We’re in good stead, ignoring the recently poor run of form.
One thing is for sure - Solskjaer leaves this side in a better way than it was when he arrived, and he has acquired some quality players in the meantime. One thing that has been improved under his reign is the level of recruitment, and similarly the clear-out of some ‘deadwood’ has been an efficient process. There was a particular structural lapse in that respect before his tenure, with that now majorly abolished.
Solskjaer significantly signed regular defensive starters Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka in his first summer window, whilst more recently reinforcing defensive depth through Alex Telles' acquisition. Bruno Fernandes has undoubtedly been the Norwegian's number one signing, with his addition transforming the side within the past two years. Donny van de Beek's signing has been a huge talking point, with the deal a bargain but the Dutchman's treatment very questionable. Edinson Cavani was more of a success story that same summer despite initial doubt, with the veteran striker proving a huge beneficiary to the United side last season.
The most recent window has been the benchmark of United's renewed market stance under Solskjaer, though: Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo are undisputedly legends of the game, whilst securing Jadon Sancho eventually will surely prove a massive success in years to come. Solskjaer's vision has always been relatively clear in terms of recruitment, with many areas that were questioned bolstered under his management.
On the opposite side of things, business has also been improved. Departures included those of Matteo Darmian, Ashley Young, Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku all to 2020/21 Serie A victors Inter Milan. Chris Smalling was another playing who exited to Italy from being on the fringe at United, with Marcos Rojo and Antonio Valencia also growing sporadic and leaving the club. Timothy Fosu-Mensah also saw his time up, whilst Dan James was admittedly correctly moved on only two years after being signed by Solskjaer. Ander Herrera's was a disappointing departure given the subsequent struggles in midfield, but overall business was good by way of the outgoings (as well as the additions, of course).
Although he struggled to ever build a collective identity, Solskjaer really developed and allowed particular players to blossom too. His work with younger players has been fantastic, helping Mason Greenwood to break through whilst catalysing Marcus Rashford's continued growth. To an extent, Anthony Martial was also further evolved during Solskjaer's first full campaign as he finished the term as United's top scorer. With regards to his use of the academy, it has been clear that his values have always been aligned with those of the club. You can't forget his influence of Luke Shaw's continued resurgence either, continuing his transformation after his horror leg injury in 2015 and more recent poor relationship with Mourinho.
There have been some extreme highs (and of course lows) under Solskjaer, none more so than that night in Paris to secure him the job on a permanent basis after an almighty interim spell. The foundations have been rebuilt at this football club, but now it’s someone else’s turn to propel Manchester United to the next level again. It's down to those higher up the hierarchy to prove their doubted worth from here, with this next managerial appointment crucial in exiting the current rut of four consecutive sackings.
It may have ended sourly, but these past few years can't be looked back on with disdain. United are back on a upward trajectory again, and that's thanks to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
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