The end is near for Solskjaer, no matter if United wish to admit it or not
Manchester United is simply not playing how it must with him charge. While I have harped on the manager’s inability to get the most out of his players in matches they are supposed to win with ease, they are now struggling in big matches where, more often than not, they rose to the occasion.
Losing games to Young Boys or Southampton is inexcusable as the best teams do not lose to upstarts or bottom-of-the-table dwellers. Getting blown out by Liverpool 5-0 does nothing to buoy morale in the dressing room. While losses to poor clubs can be brushed aside as hubris, a lack of concentration, an off day or a fluke, there is no excuse losing to Liverpool by such a lopsided margin.
Manchester United are talented as well, yet they do not get the sorts of performances to match their talent against teams good or bad.
What then, is the problem?
The easy answer is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. But the more nuanced answer involves the players at Manchester United as well and how they have not put their manager in a great position any more than he has.
Solskjaer: Nearly finished at Manchester United but it’s not entirely his fault
When the “Special One” prowled the sidelines, kicking water bottles, winning trophies and whatnot, United played “Mourinhoball,” which is to say, the same style you might have seen him use at Porto nearly 20 years ago.
While that style was reasonably effective and got the most out of the players left to him by Louis van Gaal. It did not look as pretty as the style that Sir Alex Ferguson had fostered and developed at Old Trafford for so many years.
That too, was the system Ole played under Fergie during his own playing days. When he became caretaker manager after the sacking of Mourinho, one could see a revitalized side, thrilled about getting to play classic Red Devil football once again.
That energy persisted for weeks during that season. It ebbed and flowed but it looked exciting to see once again. It looked like the players were responding to their coach and his system as they hadn’t for Mourinho.
So when a deal was reached to make Ole the permanent boss, it seemed a great fit. The players got a coach they wanted, trusted, and in many cases, already knew, while United got a coach in the Fergie lineage. The legendary Norwegian striker got the chance to double his status by leading the team as a player and a boss.
What could be better?
Well, apparently, what would’ve been better would’ve been to keep the interim tag on him for the rest of the year before analyzing the situation without all of the emotions of the season interfering with the regular decision-making process and protocols.
It seemed almost instantly like the club relaxed as soon as Ole got the job on a permanent basis. As though the crisis of confidence that had emerged over the last two administrations was finally gone for good. This was most noticeable through the players, who seemed to lose the intensity they had previously played with so quickly.
What ensued over the months and seasons that have led us to this point has been a progressive slackening, making it appear as though the team hardly cares at all sometimes. But Cristiano Ronaldo cares, that much is certain, and if there wasn’t already enough pressure on the boss from the team and the supporters, then Ronaldo has brought even more.
Ronaldo wins trophies everywhere he goes while Ole has yet to win anything as United manager. They have come so close to winning trophies, losing in the semifinal or the final, but they have not won one yet, which is something that both Van Gaal and Mourinho were able to do.
The blame will fall, therefore, to Ole and no one else. He has a team that has won with other coaches, or on other teams, yet cannot get the club over the hump. And while this logic may or may not be fair, it should be noted that the players have a responsibility as well. I have been critical of the Norwegian, no doubt, but have also wanted him to survive the challenges United offers all bosses who take the reins.
His players, however, bear culpability. They have played hard for him sometimes but remain inconsistent. It is an unpredictable lot, and perhaps that takes a real maestro of a manager to sort out. Perhaps Conte or a bigger name will finally strike the right balance with the current players on the squad.
But to be honest, I doubt it.
With the talent across the team, United should be competitive even if I were the one yelling out directions from the sideline. That they continue to stumble under Solskjaer should be a warning both manager and players share the blame. But it’s easier to sack a manager than the players. Ole will be gone and someone like Antonio Conte will come in, breathe life into the team in the short term and then likely be gone within a year or two. Such is life at United since Fergie retired.