Solskjaer needs to make good on his 2020 prediction

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer faces a potentially pivotal game as Manchester United manager tonight against Chelsea.

This match has the potential to shape the rest of the campaign, and it’s time United got back on track.

The winter break has given United a second start to the new year after a hectic and largely disappointing January.

Speaking at the end of December, Solskjaer predicted a big year ahead for himself.

The United boss was quoted by The Guardian: “2020 sounds quite good for me.

“I’m going to make 2020 a good year for myself. I think we’re on the right track as a club. We’re in a transition period but we’ve seen other clubs do it and come out strong after a couple of years.”

Bad start to the year

United began in the worst way possible, losing to Arsenal on January 1.

The Carabao Cup semi-final ended in defeat to Manchester City over two legs, even if the second leg win made it a glorious failure, it was a failure all the same.

The FA Cup run has been satisfactory so far, but form in the Premier League has been poor.

United are still looking for a 10th league win of the season tonight when we head to London to face Chelsea, hoping for a different result to our last trip to the capital at the start of the year.

Defining period

The good news for Solskjaer is that he has three wins and one draw against Chelsea in four matches in charge.

This one is shaping up as the most important of the lot, given that United enter the game down in ninth position and Chelsea in fourth.

If 2020 really is going to be a good year as Solskjaer suggested, now is the time for United to deliver.

United’s Europa League push resumes days later against Club Brugges, with a home game against Watford in between both legs.

Four wins from four would get United’s season back on track, and the whispers about Solskjaer’s job security may subside temporarily.

Lose against Chelsea and then Club Brugge, on top of the mixed to poor January, and patience for Solskjaer’s rebuild will wear thin.

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