Manchester United news LIVE: Mauricio Pochettino keen on job, Michael Carrick press conference
The Red Devils have appointed Michael Carrick to lead the team on an interim basis for the Champions League match against Villarreal on Tuesday
Manchester United begin the post-Ole Gunnar Solskjaer era this week with interim boss Michael Carrick primed to take charge of the team for their Champions League match against Villarreal on Tuesday.
Following one of the worst displays of the Norwegian’s tenure, going down 4-1 at Watford, United have opted for a change, leaving a complicated legacy for Solskjaer due to his failure to deliver silverware.
It had been a long time coming, too, with The Independent learning that the 48-year-old was made aware that he was under renewed pressure ahead of the trip to Vicarage Road, with United chiefs increasingly concerned about the mood of the players, made worse by the damaging defeat to Manchester City in the derby at Old Trafford. Cristiano Ronaldo’s feelings appear to have ultimately been relevant in the decision too, with the Portuguese superstar growing increasingly agitated by the worrying decline, feelings replicated by his compatriot Bruno Fernandes.
In terms of a longer term interim appointment, rather than an immediate long-term successor, Laurent Blanc has emerged as a strong candidate, before the club make a permanent decision on a figure such as Ajax’s Erik ten Hag in the summer. Blanc was mooted as an option when Solskjaer first arrived to stand in for Jose Mourinho in December 2018, and he has a good relationship with the hierarchy and Sir Alex Ferguson having spent two years at United as a player.
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Manchester United sack Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
More on Gary Neville’s assessment of United’s woes:
Manchester United have ‘no plan’, says Gary Neville
United said in a statement announcing Solskjaer’s sacking that they are searching for an interim coach to take over until the end of the season
Gary Neville: 'Solskjaer rebuilt United’s soul’
Neville adds: “What has gone wrong in the past couple of months? Why does a team who were progressing in the last two seasons – third, then second – suddenly look like they’ve never passed a ball to each other? The confidence is shot to piece. Ole will reflect with sadness but I think he will be proud. I’m not saying he rebuilt the club, but he rebuilt the soul of the club. It was in a dark place at the end of the last reign under Jose Mourinho.”
Gary Neville: ‘United don’t have a plan'
Gary Neville, speaking on Sky Sports, thinks the club is being poorly run at the moment.
“I’ve never been there where the players have been so drained in confidence. I don’t think the players don’t care, they’re a good group of lads. What’s happened recently I can’t explain. They looked so open, they’ve not been able to get right since. Rudderless on and off the pitch. No one, when Ronaldo signed, thought this would happen.
“Michael [Carrick] takes over now. If there was a world-class manager sat on the shelf then they could but they haven’t got anybody to appoint. I don’t think [Antonio] Conte would have been a fit for United and I don’t think there’s a perfect fit available at the moment. They don’t have a plan for the next manager at this moment in time. The planning hasn’t been great, and you have to ask serious questions. I think the club is run on the business side OK, but culturally and from a football perspective it leaves a lot to be desired.”
Manchester United sack Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
To recap: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been sacked as manager of Manchester United.
United, who made the decision in the wake of United’s 4-1 defeat at Watford, have put Michael Carrick in temporary charge while the club look to appoint an interim manager to the end of the season.
A statement said: “Manchester United announces that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has left his role as manager. Ole will always be a legend at Manchester United and it is with regret that we have reached this difficult decision.
“While the past few weeks have been disappointing, they should not obscure all the work he has done over the past three years to rebuild the foundations for long-term success.
“Ole leaves with our sincerest thanks for his tireless efforts as manager and our very best wishes for the future. His place in the club’s history will always be secure, not just for his story as a player, but as a great man and a manager who gave us many great moments. He will forever be welcome back at Old Trafford as part of the Manchester United family.”
Carrick’s first assignment after stepping up from his role as assistant manager is a Champions League clash away to Villarreal coming up on Tuesday.
Manchester United sack Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Solskjaer was aware he was under renewed pressure ahead of the Watford game, as club executives have been growing increasingly concerned about the mood of the players.
Most have long felt a change was required. Particular attention has also been paid to Cristiano Ronaldo’s feelings, and he has been increasingly anguished by the nature of displays.
Similar applies to Bruno Fernandes, who very publicly defended Solskjaer on the pitch at Vicarage Road.
Manchester United sack Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
It’s understood that, along with Michael Carrick, Mike Phelan and Kieran McKenna are remaining with the club despite Solskjaer’s exit.
That will of course depend on the make up of the new manager’s backroom team, of course, although that may not come until the summer.
An interim manager is set to be appointed until then, the club have confirmed.
Manchester United sack Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
A timeline of Solskjaer’s time in charge:
December 18: Jose Mourinho sacked as United manager.
December 19: Solskjaer appointed as caretaker manager, initially until end of 2018-19 season.
December 22: Wins first match in charge - 5-1 against former club Cardiff.
2019:
February 12: After 10 wins and one draw in all competitions, Solskjaer suffers his first defeat as United boss - a 2-0 home loss to Paris St Germain in the Champions League.
March 6: United overturn first-leg deficit to reach Champions League quarter-finals with 3-1 away win at PSG.
March 28: Solskjaer appointed full-time boss.
2020:
January: United suffer a 3-1 home defeat in the first leg of their Carabao Cup against rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford, a loss followed by a 2-0 Premier League reverse at Liverpool and a chastening home setback against Burnley. On the positive side they sign Bruno Fernandes, beat Tranmere 6-0 in the FA Cup and overcome City in the second leg, but they miss out on the final.
March 12: In their final match before football is halted because of the coronavirus pandemic, United take control of their Europa League last-16 tie with a 5-0 first-leg win at LASK in Austria in front of a crowd of just 500.
July 19: United are beaten 3-1 by Chelsea in their FA Cup semi-final.
July 26: United beat Leicester to take third place in the Premier League, 15 points behind champions Liverpool.
August 16: United suffer their third semi-final defeat of the season, losing 2-1 to Sevilla in the Europa League.
October 4: United are thrashed 6-1 by a Tottenham side managed by Mourinho and the result leaves them 16th in the Premier League.
December 8: United lose 3-2 at RB Leipzig to exit the Champions League at the group stage and drop into the Europa League.
2021
May: United finish second in the Premier League but are beaten 11-10 on penalties by Villarreal in the Europa League final.
July 24: Solskjaer signs new three-year contract to remain at the Old Trafford helm, with the option for a further 12 months.
October 24: Solskjaer appears on the brink after United are humiliated 5-0 at home by arch-rivals Liverpool.
October 30: Solskjaer earns a reprieve after a 3-0 win at Tottenham, a result which precipitates the sacking of Nuno Espirito Santo at Spurs. The Portuguese is swiftly replaced by Antonio Conte, who just days earlier was being heavily linked with United.
November 6: The heat on the Norwegian increases yet again after United are completely outplayed in a 2-0 home derby loss to City.
November 20: United fail spectacularly to return to winning ways following the international break as a heavy 4-1 defeat at Watford signals the end of Solskjaer’s reign.
Manchester United sack Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Gary Neville has paid tribute to his former teammate after his dismissal at Manchester United.
“Thank you Ole. You did us proud,” he tweeted.
“The last two months were tough but before that you restored some soul into the club.”
Manchester United sack Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Solskjaer’s departure comes with United seventh in the table after Saturday’s defeat having won only one of their last seven Premier League games, while Solskjaer won 54.2 per cent of his games in charge.
That is lower than predecessor Jose Mourinho’s 58 per cent but a better win rate than United’s other permanent managers in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, David Moyes (52.9 per cent) and Louis Van Gaal (52.4).
Solskjaer’s initial spell in caretaker charge after Mourinho’s dismissal was an overwhelming success, with 14 wins from 19 games making it a foregone conclusion he would be given the job on a permanent basis.
They scored 12 goals in his first three games in temporary charge, won the first eight and beat Tottenham and Arsenal along the way, and had 10 wins and a draw in his first 11 before Paris St Germain inflicted a first defeat.
An astonishing 3-1 win in the return leg of that Champions League tie saw United through on away goals and was the third straight win with three goals scored as United netted 40 and conceded only 17 in the 19-game spell - though curiously, Solskjaer’s eventual long-term appointment came after back-to-back defeats to Arsenal in the league and Wolves in the FA Cup.
Crunching the numbers of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Man Utd reign
The Norwegian has left Old Trafford following another heavy defeat
Manchester United sack Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
United finished second behind Manchester City last season but currently lie seventh, six points off West Ham in fourth and 12 behind leaders Chelsea.
Solskjaer insisted he could still turn things around in the wake of another chastening afternoon at Vicarage Road, but it appears the club disagree.
United keeper David De Gea gave a damning verdict on United’s display at Watford, telling the BBC: “We don’t know what to do with the ball. We don’t know how to defend properly.
“It was embarrassing, the way we played. The first half was very poor - it’s not acceptable for this club and the level of players that we have.
“It’s another nightmare. There’s been some difficulties but I don’t really know what to say.”
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