Aside from diehard “Special One” fanatics, most fans of Manchester United were relieved to see Mourinho finally leave the club. His stubbornness was costing the team points. He was stunting player development, creating a toxic
This is where Ole Gunnar Solskjær comes in. After much speculation about whether or not Zidane would come in to replace Mourinho, the former United striker, most-known for his iconic 93rd-minute winner in the 1999 Champions League Final, was announced as the interim manager until the end of the season. United supporters seemed to be cautiously optimistic about this decision. Although they loved him as a player and knew he had a love for the Club, his previous managerial experience wasn’t convincing. Despite some success with Norwegian side Molde FK, Solskjær’s managerial career was highlighted by nine months at Cardiff. In the end, he was relegated from the Premier League. He was fired after a poor start in the Championship the following season.
However, most doubts of his abilities as a caretaker manager have dispelled quickly, with the Norwegian off to an incredible start, undefeated through his first 11 games in charge, winning 10 of them. This includes a 3-1 FA Cup win over Arsenal, and a 1-0 over Tottenham, proving they can hang with the other top teams in the league. It’s not just the results that show how impressive Solskjær’s United has been, but the way in which they’re winning. They’re playing exciting, attacking football and outscoring opponents 23-6 through nine EPL games.
Solskjær has already said that playing open attacking football is a priority for him. He stated:
“I don’t think any team would like to have Martial, Pogba, Lingard,
Unleashing the talent that’s been restrained for the last three years has been key to their performances. Rashford and Martial are finally terrifying opposing defenses on a consistent basis.and we’re starting to see how good they can really be. With Pogba now being used as a CAM ahead of Matic instead of as a CDM next to him, the Frenchman is allowed to attack and create chances for his team without having to worry about defensive cover. He has amassed an incredible eight goals and six assists through nine EPL matches under OGS and is finally looking like the all-time talented midfielder that United paid such a heavy price for.
Despite early positives, it’s difficult to tell whether Solskjær will be in charge at the start of next season. He’s already made it clear he’d love to stay.
Early success doesn’t always guarantee long-term stability. Just three months ago, Emery’s Arsenal looked to be the third-best team in England, but things can quickly change. Although their emphasis to play more attacking has led to opposing teams getting less chances and therefore a better defensive record, better teams like Liverpool and Manchester City could expose United.
The sky is the limit for a team as talented as the current Man Utd. squad. Time will tell if Ole Gunnar Solskjær is up to the task. We’ll know if United should search for someone proven at a big club like Zidane or Luis Enrique. Next weekend, on the reverse fixture of the game that got Mourinho fired, Solsjkær will face his biggest challenge yet. They’ll play league leaders Liverpool. Solsjkær will try to continue to prove he’s the right man for the job. For now, he seems to be.