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After much speculation over the successor to Jose Mourinho’s controversial reign as United’s manager, club legend Ole Gunnar Solskjær has taken over as the caretaker manager for the remainder of the season.
There were many big names linked with Manchester United. The likes of Mauricio Pochettino and Zinedine Zidane were rumored to replace the Portuguese.
Comparing Solskjær’s managerial record to the likes of Pochetino and Zidane would make one wonder what made United appoint someone with absolutely no experience of managing at the highest level of the game.
Yet there are quite a few reasons why United went for him instead. Here’s a look at three of them:
#1 He can win back the players’ and fans’ support
Much like what Florentino Perez did with Zidane back in 2016, Solskjær’s appointment is primarily due to his status as a United legend rather than his managerial pedigree. His record as a manager is very average but United don’t need someone who’s a tactical genius or a serial winner.
Jose Mourinho had numerous spats with many players in the dressing room. Multiple public jabs at his squad prove that. Players like Mata, Pogba, and Sanchez – world-class players on their day – clearly couldn’t perform if they didn’t get along with the manager.
Frustrating results and a lack of character shown by the team on a number of occasions this season also turned the fans against Jose.
United need better man management more than they need a tactical revamp and Solskjær should be able to provide that.
#2 He knows the club inside out
Solskjær spent 11 years at United as a player and even coached their reserves from 2008 to 2010. These 13 years that he spent at the club surely played a role in his appointment.
Many former United players-turned-pundits had pointed out that the crisis at United needed a homegrown solution. They needed someone who knows the club, its values and what it stands for.
“He’s influenced me with everything.”- Ole Gunnar Solskjær on Sir Alex Ferguson
His status at the club and his understanding of its legacy along with his admiration of United’s greatest ever manager surely make his appointment one that was thought-out very carefully.
#3 Pressure to get results and logistics
United have had a terrible season so far, especially in the Premier League. They are currently 6th, 19 points off the top and points-wise they are closer to the relegation zone than they are to leaders Liverpool.
Getting an established manager on board in such a scenario is not easy for two reasons: the pressure to get instant results and the money that’s involved.
Moreover, United had to reportedly pay £22.5 million to let Mourinho go and the club hierarchy would surely not be happy about that. Getting another manager of his caliber and stature would surely prove too expensive for the club.
The management’s reluctance to sign players that Mourinho wanted at the start of the season proves that the club hierarchy isn’t spend-thrift like their counterparts in the blue half of the city.
Solskjær’s appointment, for these reasons, seems like the right choice. Will he be able to rescue United’s season and restore some of the club’s pride? Will he turn out to be United’s Zidane or will his reign be cut short at the end of the season or perhaps even earlier? These questions will only be answered on the pitch as United take on Cardiff City, Solskjær’s former club, in the league today.
