Nearly three years have passed since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer assumed the mantle of Manchester United manager. He took over from Jose Mourinho in December 2018, and was appointed as a temporary caretaker until he was permanently appointed in March 2019. There have been some remarkable runs of form, like winning 14 of his 19 first matches under his command. But there have also been some stunning failures, such as three semifinal exits in 2019-20 (Carabao Cup and FA Cup), and their Champions League group stage exit.
Although the Mourinho era was divisive, it brought trophies back home to United, something Solskjaer has yet to do. Their Premier League drought continues -- last win was 2012-13 -- and they have not won any title since 2016-17's Europa League.
Solskjaer rebuilt the squad and was given the stars he wanted -- this summer saw Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho return to the club they left in 2009. But the frustrations still remain. Is Solskjaer the right person to fuse this talented group into a winning collective?
We have a string of crucial games for United ahead -- two matches with Atalanta (Champions League) plus league fixtures against Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur in the next three week. Can he bring this club back to its glory days?
Solskjaer the tactician
What makes Solskjaer a manager?
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was asked three words to describe himself as Manchester United manager in a television interview. He replied with 171, rambling towards a conclusion that left viewers unsure of his character.
- ESPN+ viewers' guide: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, FA Cup, more
Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. Only)
- Do you not have ESPN? Get instant access
Solskjaer talked about how "I don’t have to have control over everything", how he was a "club man" who is "open and honest with players." The rest of the conversation was superficial and did not get to the core of Solskjaer's qualities as a manager. However, when he asked for the opinions of others in the game who had worked with Solskjaer or against him, the responses were similar.
Solskjaer is described by many as "vanilla", safe, predictable, reliable, uninspiring and unadventurous. This is in stark contrast to Jose Mourinho's predecessor at United. His unassuming personality was crucial in stabilizing the ship and relieving tensions among the team during his first months at Old Trafford. Solskjaer's inoffensive and steady persona could be a problem for his team three years later.
ESPN reported that Ole is popular and well-liked by the majority of his team. He is good with the staff at the club. However, the squad has changed since his arrival and the players want to be challenged more.
"He's a great guy, but he's no [Jurgen] Klopp nor a [Pep] Guardiola. You are now at a point where the top players will require the same leadership and decisiveness they bring to Liverpool or Manchester City."
Solskjaer is a manager, but who is he? He has cited former managers and coaches such as Carlos Queiroz, Steve McClaren and Aage Hareide, but Sir Alex Ferguson is still the key figure in Solskjaer’s football development. Although he still refers to Ferguson as his "gaffer", he does not seem to be as influenced by Ferguson's managerial skills. Ferguson, however, was a dependable manager who set the standard for tactics and selection during his 27-year tenure at Old Trafford.
Solskjaer made the important call to allow Romelu Lukaku leave United in 2019, in order to make room for Mason Greenwood's development in the first team. However, he has not made any firm decisions about his goalkeeper. He rotated Dean Henderson and David de Gea regularly last season and has left questions hanging over Donny van de Beek and Jesse Lingard. No public explanation was offered as to why.
Sources say that his relationship with Paul Pogba is good. It stems from Solskjaer's time as United's reserve manager under Ferguson. Sources say that Solskjaer has a good relationship with Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo. His lack of ego is a key factor in the harmony of the dressing room. Some see Ronaldo's return as a test for Solskjaer's management skills and tacticism. ESPN reported that Ronaldo identified the need to play forward faster; Solskjaer will have to engineer this subplot.
He will be a star player if he can change United's playing style to make that happen. If Solskjaer is unable to find a way or doesn't want to, he must assert his authority and insist that his way be the best. It is still to be seen if Solskjaer has the ability to lead a winning team with his dominant and decisive personality. -- Mark Ogden
Is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer making Manchester United a better club in his three years as manager? Visionhaus/Getty Images
Solskjaer, the tactician: What is his strategy to win the game?
It is easy to grasp the basic principles of Solskjaer’s system. One that he described as having "pace power and quick attacks", it is not difficult. His players will be fielded in a balanced 4-2-3-1 configuration most of the time. A double-pivot provides safety in the middle, where the emphasis is on maintaining a numerical edge. Forwards are both interchangeable and narrowly positioned.
This narrow positioning can be very effective, as it avoids low-percentage crosses and puts many capable finishers closer towards the goal. In many cases, penalties can also be drawn. They can cause havoc against a team with lots of width and depth, possession, Manchester City, for example, or Leeds United on occasion, which are all great examples. This can sometimes lead to problems, as wide players can be outnumbered or isolated from other attack members. Man United may struggle against teams that employ pragmatic tactics and have strong midfields. For example, Leicester City has won three consecutive games against them.
Statistically, Solskjaer’s United stands out the most is caution
In each of his full seasons (2019-20 & 2020-21), United was among the top five EPL finishers. He also ranked fourth in shots per possession, while allowing the fewest shots. The attacking third saw the most possessions, with both the opponents and the attackers completing the highest percentages of possessions.
In other words, United is willing to sacrifice ground for defensive solidity. They ranked among the top five for xG per shot in 2019-20, and second in 2020-21. In both years, opponents attempted most shots with at least two people behind the ball. United was also ranked first in xG allowed per shot in 2019-20 and second in 2020-21.
It is easy to see the difference between Solskjaer and Ferguson's approaches. They operated primarily in the 4-4-2 formation of the day. This allowed them to maintain numbers behind the ball and overwhelm opponents with extreme effort.
Play 1:30 What to Expect from Manchester United Against Atalanta Craig Burley previews Manchester United’s Champions League match vs. Atalanta.
United also generated a lot of late-game magic. This has continued into the Solskjaer era. When United is behind, and has no other choice but to push forward, they can soar. They were among the top five finishers in goal differential in behind, ranking first in both 2019-20 & 2020-21. They are more likely to be behind than other top teams, partly due to their cautious and sometimes stolid tactics. However, they are also more likely to catch up.
Better opponents, such as those found in European competitions, are less likely to allow comebacks.
United has been unable to win 11 of the competitions against the top clubs in Europe, including Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City. These matches have resulted in three points for United.
Their struggles in European competitions has clearly been exacerbated by this. They were able to score first in three Champions League matches last year and won all three. However, they lost all three matches and fell behind in the remaining three. They were relegated to Europa League and scored in the first four knockout rounds to reach the final. However, Villarreal won the final and they managed just one goal and two shots in 120 minutes.
Is there any improvement in the season after Jadon Sancho and Cristiano Ronaldo were added to an already expensive team? Although it's too soon to tell, Sancho has struggled early. This may be due to the fact that he is a naturally wide player trying to establish himself in smaller confines. Solskjaer's natural caution was also a factor in Young Boys' Champions League defeat.
STREAM ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ Dan Thomas is joined with Craig Burley, Shaka Herlop and other experts to bring you the most recent highlights and discuss the major storylines. Stream on ESPN+ (U.S only).
Although they have not yet played any of Liverpool, Chelsea, or Manchester City in Premier League play they are still in sixth place, five points behind first, after eight matches. Ronaldo's presence may be the reason they are taking more shots than usual, but as it is with clubs that employ Ronaldo, they have had limited options. This could explain why they allow more shots. Their last three Premier League matches have seen them only pull one point.
This shift aside, many of the problems that plagued Solskjaer's tenure in the past have resurfaced this fall. The mood could be changed by Sunday's win over Liverpool. Bill Connelly
How does Solskjaer manage the squad?
Ask Ole Gunnar Solskjaer if he thinks he is good enough to manage one of the largest clubs in the world. He will most likely say that he doesn’t know. However, he will insist that he understands what it takes to manage Manchester United.
Solskjaer knows that a management record that includes a reserve position, a relegation with Cardiff City, and two spells in Molde in Norway is not enough to be promoted to Old Trafford's top job. Instead, Solskjaer has focused his time at United on being "the perfect fit", something that Jose Mourinho, Louis van Gaal, and David Moyes proved to be wrong. Solskjaer would admit that things don't always go according to plan but insists that he has always attempted to conduct himself and his team in the right manner.
It began on the day Mourinho was named his successor. The 24-hour-long whirlwind ended with a visit at the club's Christmas party. He made a brief speech and got up on the dance floor. The dark clouds that had been gathering towards the end Mourinho's reign were immediately lifted. He has made it a habit of being with his team during meals, whether in Carrington's canteen or in the team hotels. Before training sessions, he is often seen casually talking to the first players out of the dressing rooms. Staff members can also find him holding the doors at Carrington. Visitors to his office will often see him making tea or coffee.
Solskjaer views his role more as a manager than a coach. Many of the planning and execution for training sessions are delegated to assistants. While some senior players have expressed concerns, Solskjaer has always supported the team.
Play 1:33 Is Cristiano Ronaldo the one who can bring down Solskjaer's regime? Shaka Hislop asks Shaka what it would take to get Ole Gunnar Solskjaer fired from Manchester United.
In the meantime, backroom staff gaps have been filled with outside expertise. Solskjaer was dismayed by the fact that they conceded too many goals from corners last season and free-kicks, and appointed Eric Ramsey as set-piece coach. Martyn Pert, a student in the Pro Licence program at Solskjaer in 2010, was hired because of his ability in multiple languages. He can communicate instructions to Fred in Portuguese, and to Edinson in Spanish. This avoids important details from being lost in translation.
Solskjaer also attempted to decrease the dependence on player liaison officers. He believes that players should be able think for themselves on and off the pitch. Their offices have been relocated to a different area of the training grounds since Solskjaer's arrival. The players are encouraged to take part in the management of their offices, such as how they return from injuries or what positions they prefer.
Solskjaer's focus when speaking to potential new signings is to understand their motivations for wanting to move. He vetoed a move to Paulo Dybala in 2019 because he was not convinced by the Argentinian and it left him a short striker for the next season.
Training sessions should be more intense than weekend matches. This is the message. Players are encouraged to tackle the ball with force, rather than discouraged. The players' competitive spirit is fueled by head tennis tournaments and six-versus-six games.
Solskjaer has made himself available to his players if they have any problems, but he remains the boss. Lateness is not acceptable and those who do are punished severely. He is known by players to be a troublemaker if he gets up from his bench or steps onto the touchline during games.
He has a strong streak that he isn't always given credit for. It's also one of the reasons he doesn't like the nickname "The baby-faced Assassin" from his childhood. Rob Dawson
Solskjaer has to fix the issues
Although this is the best team Solskjaer managed at Old Trafford in his tenure, it's still not balanced. There are enough attacking players to support two teams. However, there are few midfielders who would rather do the hard work, especially in the middle. Nemanja Matic, the defensive midfielder, is the only one who can do the dirty work. However, at 33, he doesn't have the legs to move around the pitch as well as he did in his youth. Fred and Scott McTominay have been often paired together. However, Solskjaer must leave out an attacking player to ensure United's creativity is not stifled. Solskjaer is still learning the art of balancing attack and defense.
Although midfield was identified as an area to be strengthened before the summer transfer window, Solskjaer agreed with the recruitment department that the club should prioritize a winger or a centre-back. It will likely be re-examined next summer.
Sancho and Ronaldo, two of the summer's players, are taking some time to get to know each other. Ronaldo has been criticized for not pressing enough, something Solskjaer was keen to implement, but United knew what they were getting when they signed him. United don't worry about Ronaldo's running stats as he is there to score goals. He was the least pressurized striker in Serie A.
Sancho is an exception. ESPN has learned that Sancho's slow start at United is due to an injury sustained at the Euros with England. Because of Greenwood's excellent form at the beginning of the season, Solskjaer is keen to continue picking Greenwood on Greenwood's right. Sancho has been often shifted to the side. Solskjaer believes it is still a work-in-progress. -- Dawson
Are Solskjaer and this team the right man?
Solskjaer is taking United to the next level with his coaching skills. Since replacing Jose Mourinho, Solskjaer has brought stability and calm to the club and oversaw a team rebuild that gives the team a chance at success. United find themselves in a similar position to Chelsea last year under Frank Lampard. The club has a legend as their coach, someone who has done a hard job with dignity. But, the time is right for a world-class coach.
It was a brilliant decision by Chelsea to replace Thomas Tuchel with Lampard. It remains to be seen if the United hierarchy has the vision and the appetite to make similar changes. -- Ogden
There is no limit to the amount of time that can be taken. Ferguson won his first domestic tournament in his fourth season, and he didn't win the league title until his seventh. Solskjaer will not have an indefinite amount of time and we haven’t seen any indications that the club will give him what he needs (read more world-class midfielders or that he will be able to adapt enough to the team he already has. So no. Connelly
Solskjaer is a strong administrator who has seen enough progress that he will be able to take United to the next level. He may not be able to do it, but he deserves to show that he can.
United has tried temporary fixes in the past and it didn’t work. The club won’t be in hurry to abandon the plan and start over because of the bumpy run. It's possible that things would be different if United had an obvious candidate who was the right match for what Solskjaer has started, but there isn’t. -- Dawson
