The knives are out for Man United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær following his side’s defeat to Villarreal in the Europa League final.
Fans and pundits alike are once again questioning if the Norwegian is the right man for the job, with some even straight out calling for him to be sacked this summer.
Photo via Manchester Evening News
Those who want him out argue that his inexperience was laid bare in the Europa League final, where poor team selection and substitutions cost them the game against opponents who were there for the taking.
Others feel Ole is simply not good enough for a Big Six club like United, believing he’s only gotten this far because players like Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford have been performing well this season.
The more level-headed United supporters, however, believe the manager should be given more time.
This camp points out that Solskjær has taken the club from a third place finish in the EPL and three losing semi-finals last season…to a runners-up Premiership spot and a European final this campaign.
Don’t forget that United also went the entire league season without a single defeat away from home.
That, by any measure, is significant progress.
Photo via Eurosport
But even Solskjær’s biggest supporters will admit that he has major issues to resolve if he is kept on. (there are already reports saying he will be given a contract extension)
Top of his list should be bringing in additional reinforcements during the summer transfer window.
United are currently in the market for a striker, a right-sided attacker, a defender and a defensive midfielder.
It is highly unlikely the Glazers will shell out big money for players like Harry Kane and Erling Haaland, so Ole will have his work cut out for him finding more affordable options.
The second pressing issue at Old Trafford is the future of Paul Pogba and David de Gea.
The unsettled Pogba is into the final year of his contract, and Ole needs to decide whether to keep the midfielder, or cash in on him this summer.
De Gea, meanwhile, is currently locked in an intense battle with Dean Henderson for a place in the starting eleven.
Competition between players is great, but the manager will have to decide if it makes financial sense having a player like De Gea on the bench, when he is the club’s highest earner at over 375 thousand pounds per week.
Now, it is understandable that fans are getting impatient considering United – multiple-time Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League winners - have gone four straight seasons without a single trophy.
Its up for debate whether Solskjær is the right man for the job in the long term, but it is also undeniable that he has shown improvement in each of the three seasons he’s spent in the Old Trafford hot-seat.
For some, that alone should be enough to keep him on at least for another campaign, but their voice is being increasingly drowned out by those who are demanding a big manager for a big club.
Time will tell what the future holds for Solskjær.
By: Nicholas Darren John
