Manchester United's three worst moments of 2019
2019 is drawing to a close as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer approaches a year in charge of Manchester United.
It has been a tough ride for the United legend and he has had to endure some tough moments since being appointed permanent boss.
We’ve picked out the three worst matches of his reign so far as the Norwegian looks to propel his side up the league over the festive period.
Everton 4-0 Manchester United
This was the afternoon on which the scale of the task facing Solskjaer became absolutely clear.
A hugely successful interim spell had created the illusion that liberating the players was all United needed to get back on track, but the thumping at Goodison Park showed the depth of United’s problems.
It was an utterly gutless performance, devoid of fight and creativity and United did not win a league game for the rest of the season thereafter.
Manchester United 0-2 Cardiff City
An abject end to the season had seen United’s Champions League ambitions end the week before against already-relegated Huddersfield Town – which was another match which could easily have made this list.
But given a chance to restore some pride in front of their home fans, against a club which Solskjaer led to relegation during his only previous job in England, United were shocking.
Neil Warnock’s relegated side outfought and outmaneuvered United on their own patch, with Paul Pogba’s lack of defensive workrate never more obvious, before he was confronted by a fan at full time.
If Solskjaer had still been interim manager at this stage, which was the initial plan when he was appointed in December, the chances are he’d have been relieved of his duties after this one.
West Ham United 2-0 Manchester United
Mourinho’s United were battered at the London Stadium almost a year before and Solskjaer’s side clearly learned no lessons ahead of this one.
A poor game meant the Hammers didn’t even need to be that good to beat United – that Saturday marked their next win after this game speaks volumes of their true quality.
United ended the game with Jesse Lingard up front, as a striking injury crisis bit, and Solskjaer’s side once again failed to show any idea of how they’d go about winning the game.
