Manchester United's board faces a potentially disastrous decision in bringing back Ole Gunnar Solskjær as interim manager. The Norwegian's past stint was marked by inconsistency and controversy, culminating in his departure after just six months of the 2019-2020 season. Despite this, Jason Wilcox, the director of football, and Omar Berrada, the chief executive, may be tempted to revisit Solskjær, citing his previous success as interim manager.
However, history suggests that this would be a huge gamble. In his first stint, Solskjær led United to a 14-game unbeaten run, but the team's performance ultimately suffered during the latter stages of the season. The same pattern could repeat if he were brought back now.
Solskjær's past failures have been well-documented, including his handling of high-profile defeats and his inability to connect with certain players. Moreover, the club's current state – 31 points from 19 games, same as Chelsea in fifth place – indicates that there are significant issues to be addressed, rather than just a need for a spark.
If Solskjær were to return, it would likely be seen as a sign of desperation from the board. The consequences of his second stint being equally disastrous would be dire, with fan morale already at an all-time low and the team's reputation further tarnished.
The United hierarchy is bracing itself for another failed managerial appointment, with three changes in the last year alone – Amorim, Ten Hag, and Ashworth – all of which ended in disappointment. Solskjær would join a list of potential candidates vying for the full-time job, including Oliver Glasner, Andoni Iraola, Mauricio Pochettino, Thomas Tuchel, and more.
Ultimately, it remains to be seen if Solskjær's return would be the right move for Manchester United. One thing is certain, however – the consequences of failure would be severe, and the board must carefully consider their next steps to avoid repeating past mistakes.
However, history suggests that this would be a huge gamble. In his first stint, Solskjær led United to a 14-game unbeaten run, but the team's performance ultimately suffered during the latter stages of the season. The same pattern could repeat if he were brought back now.
Solskjær's past failures have been well-documented, including his handling of high-profile defeats and his inability to connect with certain players. Moreover, the club's current state – 31 points from 19 games, same as Chelsea in fifth place – indicates that there are significant issues to be addressed, rather than just a need for a spark.
If Solskjær were to return, it would likely be seen as a sign of desperation from the board. The consequences of his second stint being equally disastrous would be dire, with fan morale already at an all-time low and the team's reputation further tarnished.
The United hierarchy is bracing itself for another failed managerial appointment, with three changes in the last year alone – Amorim, Ten Hag, and Ashworth – all of which ended in disappointment. Solskjær would join a list of potential candidates vying for the full-time job, including Oliver Glasner, Andoni Iraola, Mauricio Pochettino, Thomas Tuchel, and more.
Ultimately, it remains to be seen if Solskjær's return would be the right move for Manchester United. One thing is certain, however – the consequences of failure would be severe, and the board must carefully consider their next steps to avoid repeating past mistakes.