Ask any Manchester United fan where they were on May 26th 1999 and they will not hesitate with a reply. The moment when Ole Gunnar Solskjær stuck out his right foot to stab home the Champions’ League winner against Bayern Munich holds a rightful place among the greatest moments in club history.
This is why excitement greeted his appointment as caretaker manager following the firing of Jose Mourinho in mid-December.
“The Special One” Not So Special After All
Mourinho`s tenure was hardly a failure, with two trophy wins. He also managed to restore United to relevance following Louis van Gaal’s time at the helm. However, his coaching philosophy of grinding out results was far from an attractive style. Having spent almost half a billion dollars in transfers, there was plenty of talent on the squad. Yet, frustration continued to mount.
No other story surrounding Mourinho illustrated the larger issue than his fractious relationship with superstar Paul Pogba. United hardly spent over $120 million to bring the prodigal son back to Old Trafford as a bench-warmer, after all.
And yet, Pogba ended up consigned to the bench in the last months of Mourinho’s time. When actually playing, the tension was palpable as Pogba more often than not ended up in a deep holding position.
Likewise, players such as Alexis Sanchez, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Anthony Martial were either hardly fielded or stifled by the tactics.
With only 7 wins in the first 17 matches of this season, United were well adrift of league leaders Liverpool. Each subpar display left the managerial seat getting hotter and hotter.
The Last Straw
A miserable 3-1 capitulation at Liverpool sealed Mourinho’s fate, and his firing came just two days later.
Immediately, speculation began about who would become the new manager. After all, the position at Manchester United remains among the most sought-after positions in the sport. It had to be an almost larger-than-life figure to placate the fanbase and sustain Sir Alex Ferguson‘s imposing legacy.
Speculation immediately began involving names such as Zinédine Zidane, Antonio Conte and Didier Deschamps. These were certainly viable candidates who came with impressive resumes.
The Return of the “Baby-Faced Assassin”
Within 24 hours, United announced the hiring of Solskjaer as caretaker manager through the end of the 2018/19 season.
It was likely a public relations move with the fanbase in mind as much as a footballing decision. Solskjaer’s heroics in that Champions’ League final were only the tip of the iceberg. An 11-year career at the club saw him notch over 125 goals and 50 assists.
The Norwegian’s folk hero status with the fans centered on the fact that he thrived as a “supersub”. Consequently, a mid-season appointment was appropriate. The widespread opinion was that his familiarity with the dressing-room culture would serve him well.
As much optimism and excitement as there was, there was also skepticism. Solskjaer had built up an excellent track record coaching former club Molde FK in the Norwegian Tippeligaen. That included back-to-back league titles and an overall win percentage above 55%. However, relegation from the Premiership following a 2014 mid-season appointment at Cardiff was a significant blemish on his record.
In his defense, the situation at Cardiff at the time was tenuous, and saving their season was near-impossible.
What Solskjaer Inherited
As previously stated, the talent was there for United to thrive. From back to front, options were available to the manager to field competitive lineups.
- Goalkeeper: As a shot-stopper, David de Gea is one of the best in the game. Backing him up is veteran Argentinian Sergio Romero.
- Defense: The weakest link of the squad currently. There remain glaring needs to address, but the core of Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly can be built on. One positive under Mourinho was the return to form of Luke Shaw following his horrific injury in 2015.
- Midfield: No shortage of options here between Pogba, Juan Mata, Ander Herrera and Nemanja Matic at the core. Solskjaer will find plenty of balance for the engine room of the team.
- Attack: In Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard and Sanchez, this is a pacey strikeforce. All that before even considering the finishing ability of the physical Romelu Lukaku up top.
Early Encouragement
Ringing up 4 changes from Mourinho’s final lineup, Solskjaer had a dream start with a 5-1 thumping at Cardiff. In contrast to their previous form, United played a free-flowing style that dominated possession and created more shots.
Reaction to the win was positive from media and fans alike, with Pogba, Lingard and Martial singled out. It was a perfect start for Solskjaer, but with guarded optimism since it was only his first match.
The Old Trafford homecoming against Huddersfield saw another dominant performance, highlighted by Pogba’s second-half brace. By now, the whispers of excitement had become louder murmurs. This type of form coupled with the festive season made it all the more difficult for fans to contain themselves.
Rashford and Pogba combined again to bedevil Bournemouth as they romped home 4-1 to wrap up the year in style.
The turn of the New Year produced two more wins on the trot: 2-0 victories over Reading in the F.A. Cup and a Premiership win over Newcastle.
Five matches, five wins. 16 goals scored, with just 3 conceded. The linchpin for this run, a man who looked like a malcontent just 3 weeks ago? Pogba, with 4 goals and 3 assists in those three December matches. In fact, the Frenchman managed to surpass his goal tally for the season under Mourinho in those matches.
Hype or the Real Deal?
It is difficult to argue against an spotless record so far, but tempered expectations should rule the day for now. The four straight league wins have made for a solid run, but all four opponents were lower-half teams. More important, United remain 6 points behind 4th position, the final Champions’ League qualifying spot.
Conversely, a 4-win streak with +11 goal difference is the “champagne football” United fans expect against that caliber of opposition. These are no longer the cagey 1-0 affairs they became accustomed to under Mourinho.
With results like these, optimism surrounding United`s direction and form appear justified for now. It is no surprise to hear the familiar refrain of “You Are My Solskjaer” ringing around Old Trafford again.
What Next?
A visit to Wembley to face third-placed Spurs beckons this weekend, followed by an F.A. Cup showdown against Arsenal a couple of weeks later. The rest of the league schedule is favorable on paper before Champions’ League play resumes in mid-February.
The month of March will be decisive for United’s season. In a 10-day period, they face road trips against PSG and Arsenal before coming home for the Manchester Derby.
Will a positive light continue to shine over Solskjaer’s homecoming? Or will the last couple of weeks turn out to be fool’s gold for United fans? As the transfer window opens, United would be wise to pursue defensive help. Only time will tell whether this ends up being a marriage made in heaven or a marriage of convenience. That said, the early returns are plenty of cause for encouragement.