Manchester United players open to new manager as pressure on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer grows

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer attempted to rally the players together after the shocking defeat to Liverpool but many were already attuned to the criticism outside

Manchester United’s players feel they are getting unfair criticism for a lack of tactical structure in the team, with a core now open to the idea of a managerial change after Sunday’s dismal 5-0 home defeat to Liverpool.

While Ole Gunnar Solskjaer remains “liked” by most of the squad, there is a growing sense it has run its course as long-term issues have come crashing in over the last few weeks. Players have complained about the same problems affecting them again and again, which led to Liverpool being able to pick United off for a defeat of historic proportions.

Players are now openly discussing the possibility of whether a new manager would bring better results, and are conscious of the upswing that Chelsea saw after replacing Frank Lampard with Thomas Tuchel last January when the west London club went on to win the Champions League and are currently top of the Premier League after nine games.

This is something that has been mentioned at the top of the club, but the resolute line until Sunday was that the club would stick by Solskjaer. That stance is coming under huge pressure, especially with Antonio Conte’s camp making it known that he would be interested in coming to Old Trafford.

Solskjaer attempted to rally the players together after the defeat to Liverpool, but many were already attuned to the criticism outside. The manager faces a battle to keep the squad onside as a hugely challenging set of fixtures continues, with league games away to Tottenham and home to Manchester City up next either side of a Champions League trip to Atalanta, and Chelsea and Arsenal also on the horizon.