Two former Manchester United players have weighed in on whether Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should ever return as manager.
The mood at Manchester United can flip in an instant, due to the rocky foundations of Ruben Amorim’s opening year at the club.
While Sir Jim Ratcliffe has pledged to stick by Amorim for three seasons, nobody really takes this too seriously because we have been here before.
If Ruben Amorim’s United go on a losing streak, it is hard to see him surviving long, considering his failure to win back-to-back league games.
Seven years ago when United sacked Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was appointed as caretaker boss, that ended up in his permanent appointment.
Two of his former United teammates from his playing days have been asked whether they would want to see it happen a second time.
Butt and Scholes on Solskjaer
In the latest episode of The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt were asked if they would take Ole Gunnar Solskjaer back to Manchester United.
Scholes found the question difficult to answer, commenting: “Tough question,” before adding: “There are a few names that have been mentioned that haven’t done enough.”
Nicky Butt provided a more detailed response, commenting: “The tough thing for Ole is if you come back a second time, it could ruin him.
“It won’t, because of his legacy at the football club, but you could bring prime Sir Alex or Jose at the moment and they wouldn’t be able to do anything with that squad.
“For me I hope it wouldn’t happen, purely because if he got asked to do it, he would do it because of his love for the club. And we all would, but I wouldn’t like to see it end bad for him.”
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is out of work after being fired by Besiktas at the start of the season following their elimination from the Europa Conference League.
Solskjaer was sacked by United in November 2021, and had been out of work prior to taking the Besiktas job.
Scholes and Butt not convinced by Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s comments
Despite Sir Jim Ratcliffe throwing his weight behind Ruben Amorim, the Class of ’92 duo are not convinced about the Manchester United head coach’s job security.
Butt said that he does not believe United have improved on last season, adding: “No chance. If he loses three games in a row, he’s gone.”
Scholes believes Ratcliffe was making the only comments he could, commenting: “As an owner of a football club you can’t put pressure on.”
Butt believes that United could still make a sacking quite easily, without undercutting Ratcliffe’s comments.
He said: “Ratcliffe can always go back to ‘it’s the director or CEO’s decision.”
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
