Solskjaer told he’s safe for now but Manchester United’s squad is confused and divided

It was in the away dressing room of the King Power Stadium, as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer tried to wrap his head round the problems afflicting Manchester United, that some of the players listening to his speech allowed the seeds of discontent to grow.

Solskjaer asked his team for their thoughts on the issues causing United to leak chances week after week. More than one concluded that the answer was the man posing the question.

Recriminations abound when sides are on the slide, but the sense that Solskjaer is not the manager to lead United on has taken hold for a section of his squad over the past month. They admire his manner, his commitment, and public protection but doubts are growing about his sophistication to challenge Pep Guardiola, Thomas Tuchel and Jurgen Klopp.

Some would be open to a change in the Old Trafford dugout, believing the end of a cycle has been reached. “You want a manager who has been through the experience before and knows how to deal with it,” says a source close to the dressing room.

The trauma of the 5-0 defeat by Klopp’s Liverpool has accentuated those feelings. Rather than open rebellion, the situation is whispered scrutiny. Sources say there will not be a repeat of the depths plunged in the mood at Carrington under Jose Mourinho because Solskjaer has kept away from making matters personal, but players are beginning to consider whether he is productive to their professional careers.

In the circumstances, a flurry of debate has sparked over Solskjaer’s future. Joel Glazer took a video meeting with Ed Woodward and Richard Arnold on Monday and while United insist such discourse is regular, the unprecedented scenes at Old Trafford 24 hours earlier were prime in thoughts. Woodward was not at the stadium – Arnold did attend – but sources close to the board said everyone at the club is hurting over the performance. Sir Alex Ferguson’s anguish was etched all over his face.

Whether acute pain meant the hierarchy would act over Solskjaer was unclear for a period on Monday. But by nightfall it transpired he will very likely be given the opportunity to rectify matters, starting at Tottenham on Saturday.

 

Manchester United were embarrassed by their rivals at Old Trafford (Photo: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

There was unequivocal backing after the defeat to Leicester and while it was possible to detect a slight softening of that tone post-Liverpool, Solskjaer still has support from above for the moment. In the past fortnight, key directors have privately voiced a determination to plan long-term with the Norwegian.

The decision rests with co-chairman Joel Glazer, who takes a daily interest in United, with Woodward a contributing voice despite his departure being scheduled for the end of this year. Arnold, the managing director expected to replace Woodward, would also be involved but his focus is commercial. John Murtough, the football director, and Darren Fletcher, the technical director who can be a bridge between players, manager and board, have advisory roles.

The process at United is often slow on mundane matters so, for such a major call, people with knowledge of the club anticipate plenty of deliberation, even if the scale of pay-off is nowhere near the £19.6 million handed to Mourinho and his staff. A decision to stand by Solskjaer will bring intense pressure given the scale of debacle against Klopp’s team. United produced a display as shambolic as any seen in decades, with Liverpool able to carve open attacks with ease.

Sources have reported confusion over the style as a contributing factor. Solskjaer is said to have given an instruction to press high on Liverpool but players were confused by the exact coordination. In training, United do not train much pressing, with an explanation being that the strategy under Solskjaer is for the man nearest the ball to close down the opponent in possession as the team track back and get into shape.

But the approach by United’s players suggests there was a breakdown in communication. For Liverpool’s first goal Aaron Wan-Bissaka ran to press Andrew Robertson, with Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw shuffling across, leaving space for Naby Keita to exploit.

Bruno Fernandes also repeatedly broke forward to hassle Liverpool’s players, which is a familiar issue for United out of possession. In those circumstances, Scott McTominay and Fred were left against Liverpool’s midfield three with much ground to cover.

At one stage, Cristiano Ronaldo could be seen making frantic hand gestures as if mimicking the runs being made by his team-mates.

Mike Phelan stood at the edge of the technical area trying to guide players into position. Phelan tends to be the coach on the sidelines for big games, but after the score became 3-0, he was replaced by Solskjaer, who stood with his eyes fixed on the pitch.

 

Solskjaer will very likely be given the opportunity to rectify matters, starting at Tottenham on Saturday (Photo: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)

Whatever the message from Solskjaer, he can be frustrated at certain players neglecting even basic duties. Wan-Bissaka jogged back when pressing Robertson, allowing Liverpool’s left-back to sprint into the box ready had Keita decided to play a square ball.

Wan-Bissaka has become a source of concern for United insiders, with a belief he has not kicked on since joining from Crystal Palace in a £50 million deal. While responsibility lies with coaches, who have delivered numerous one-to-one sessions during international breaks, there is also a feeling that the player must show increased application.

There are worries over Maguire and Shaw, two of United’s best players last season who have suffered dramatic dips in form. The pair were repeatedly drawn on top of each other through poor communication, allowing Liverpool to find success on the right wing, and some have questioned whether the summer’s experience with England, when both earned plaudits, has encouraged a subconscious easing-off. Some believe a “best in class” sport psychologist would make a difference to the team. United used to employ Bill Beswick in the acknowledgement that playing for the club is an enormous burden and most struggle.

Maguire’s place in United’s team for Leicester caused surprise given he had only trained once with the team after three weeks out injured, in a clear signal Solskjaer does not trust Eric Bailly. Some players believe it was poor man-management to give Bailly a new contract in the summer, even if it was to protect his value and then overlook him despite Maguire not being at full fitness.

Jesse Lingard’s continued absence from selections after major contributions in key moments from the bench has also confused members of Solskjaer’s squad. Lingard gave a hint of his frustrations by responding to a fan asking for greater work as he warmed up on the touchline against Liverpool by saying: “I’m not even on the pitch.”

Additionally, one source said that United do not play many small-sided games at Carrington and raised the idea that Maguire, in particular, might benefit from such drills to improve his feet in tight situations.

The warm-up could certainly use work. During shooting practice ahead of the Liverpool defeat, only Ronaldo scored when teed up by Michael Carrick, with a number of players firing off target. When Fernandes gained an early chance he snatched the shot wide. Liverpool’s warm-up carried greater intensity and Mohamed Salah’s finishing was exemplary when the game started.

Mason Greenwood was the player to make way at the break, with United 4-0 down, but Solskjaer’s motivation was believed to stem from saving a young player from further ignominy rather than as a judgement on his display.

After the game, Solskjaer addressed his players in the dressing room, reiterating the need to respond emphatically, then signed autographs for fans outside the Stretford End who had waited two hours after the final whistle.

Thousands left when Salah scored his hat-trick, and there were nervous scenes in some sections given the unprecedented numbers trying to exit at such an early stage. Stewards had not yet opened the gates, so turnstiles were the only option, leading to moments of crushes on the concourses.

Monday was a day off for players, in the diary since the previous fortnight given United are not in the Carabao Cup this week, and in any case it was deemed they could use time with family to ruminate over the disaster.

Solskjaer was in at Carrington working – first of all watching the match back in full – but a detailed inquest is expected to take place on Tuesday. It is believed Solskjaer will address the squad ready to deliver stark assessments. Changes to the side for the game at Tottenham Hotspur are inevitable.

Paul Pogba is suspended for the trip to London after his red card 15 minutes after coming off the bench. His overzealous lunge on Keita was preceded by numerous sprints to retrieve dead balls, a sign of his efforts to make a difference having been left out for the second game in succession. Nevertheless, his actions proved detrimental to the team.

Managing Pogba has been one of Solskjaer’s better achievements at United but the situation is delicate with the World Cup winner wanting to play. Balancing Ronaldo’s workload is also a task for Solskjaer given the focus attached to a player with such a global status. There are some in the industry who consider Ronaldo’s signing a problem for Solskjaer, whatever his goal output.

 

Ronaldo looks dejected following the humiliating defeat on Sunday (Photo: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Clearly, Solskjaer needs a result at Tottenham to assuage concerns. Another defeat would turn up the heat to ferocious temperatures and invite the agents of managers to push their cause further.

Antonio Conte has let it be known he would be open to taking charge of United, for instance. Only a handful clubs appeal to Conte, who has won titles in England and Italy, and though he would not usually consider accepting a job mid-season – Italian coaches tend to prefer sitting out a year than missing a six-week pre-season when they have a say on transfers and can drill home ideas – United would be an exception.

Zinedine Zidane is another name being mentioned in football circles, while Mauricio Pochettino, whose time at Paris Saint-Germain seems fraught with uncertainty, is said to still admire United. And if Solskjaer is given a longer stay of execution, Brighton’s highly-rated Graham Potter could come under consideration.

For now Solskjaer is in charge, however, and determined to fight on.