Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has spoken out on his spell at Manchester United which came to an end in late 2021.
Manchester United fans wanted the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer spell to work. It was a ‘free hit’ when he was appointed after Jose Mourinho and turned into a surprise success story.
But after the high of ‘Ole at the wheel’ and that night in Paris, the project came crashing to a halt two years ago, with Solskjaer conceding the Cristiano Ronaldo return had not worked out.
This week he conducted a revealing interview with The Athletic on a wide range of subjects, which were eye-opening, but don’t exactly elicit sympathy for the Norwegian.
READ: Confirmed Manchester United transfers in, out, loans, releases, youth for 2023/24
Solskjaer not strong enough
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer clearly tried his best at Manchester United, and as he pointed out, was a penalty shootout away from winning a trophy. Critics would argue he failed to beat a weaker Villarreal side over 120 minutes.
And even in that match, he admits a mistake, not bringing on Nemanja Matic, because others ‘deserved it more’. It underlines a concern that the manager was not strong enough to make the big calls.
He revealed quite shockingly that a couple of unnamed players turned down the chance to be captain. He had clearly inherited a problematic group of players.
Recruitment a major problem
The major problem which blighted Solskjaer’s reign were problems in the recruitment department.
He admitted there was a cap on major signings, which he signed up for. He explained: “There was a cap on three main ones every season. I signed up for it when I arrived. I understood my remit and agreed to it.”
With this in mind there really is little reason to feel sympathy for Solskjaer over these issues. Especially when he knew he had three signings to make in 2019, and chose one of them to be Dan James.
However, you could argue that in summer 2020, he did not get any of the three signings he wanted, having to settle for Donny van de Beek and a spree of subsequent panic buys on deadline day.
Solskjaer also mentioned that Jadon Sancho was United’s first choice right winger, knowing that he preferred to play on the left. It is not a signing which has worked out well, and reflects the poor decisions taken during his spell in charge.
Referencing the Glazers, he admits it was difficult, adding: “I had to be patient and mentally strong — and I was.”
Solskjaer did not get the signing of Erling Haaland or Jude Bellingham he wanted, but made it sound like the decision to skip on Moises Caicedo was a joint decision he agreed with.
He said: “We discussed Moises Caicedo, but we felt we needed players ready for there and then.”
There were no incomings at all that transfer window.
Solskjaer interview is enlightening but makes you wonder what was left out
This was a revealing interview from Solskjaer but not exactly a ‘reveal all’. It was the nuggets Solskjaer felt confident passing on. You suspect it was even more problematic behind the scenes than he hints at.
Solskjaer does not address the issues with Mason Greenwood, that will remain a locked and guarded secret, and does not disclose the names of players who refused captaincy, caused problems in the dressing room, and the ones who ‘weren’t constructive to the environment’.
We can take a guess. But Solskjaer clearly has even more to tell, if he chooses.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
