Manchester United’s stance over a move for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as manager has reportedly been explained.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos decided to sack Erik ten Hag as manager of Manchester United with the Dutchman losing four of his opening nine games in the Premier League.
United beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final in May and that gave Ten Hag the chance to turn things around during the new season but that has clearly not happened.
With Ten Hag becoming the fifth permanent manager to lose his job at Old Trafford since 2013, attention now turns to who will replace the former Ajax manager.
Manchester United make Ole Gunnar Solskjaer stance clear
One of the five managers who was dismissed as manager of the Red Devils since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013 was former striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
During the Norwegian’s time in the Premier League, he guided the club to second and third-placed finishes in the division and reached the UEFA Europa League final, before losing on penalties to Unai Emery’s Villarreal.
Solskjaer has spoken about Ten Hag previously and now, according to a report from the Manchester Evening News, the club have made their stance clear on the possibility of Solskjaer’s return.
According to the report, United have not ruled out making a move for Solskjaer whether it would be as a temporary appointment or indeed a longer-term one to form part of the backroom team.
United are due to pay £17 million in compensation to Ten Hag so money could well be tight for Ineos to find a replacement for the Dutchman, with the report stating that unemployed managers could become serious options. Solskjaer remains unemployed since his dismissal from United back in 2021.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer return would not be right for Man United
As romantic as Solskjaer’s potential return would be, the Norwegian manager should not be brought back into the club unless he is part of a coaching team.
Solskjaer certainly has a claim to be United’s best post-Sir Alex Ferguson manager, if we are strictly talking about league position, but a return would not be a wise move.
Ineos have to get this appointment right and banking on Solskjaer, who never won a trophy at Old Trafford, to come in and be that man would be a risk.
He would certainly be a popular decision for the Old Trafford faithful but Ineos have to be brave and avoid being emotionally swayed by decisions.
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