Reports from Sky Sports suggest that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is expected to remain in charge of Manchester United for the time being, despite enduring the humiliating defeat against Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday 24th October.
The Norwegian manager’s future came under huge scrutiny after the 5-0 thrashing by their fiercest rival in the Premier League. The board got together on Monday to decide on the manager’s future as they had doubts about Solskjaer being the right man to lead United forward after what was a shambolic night.
It looks like the 48-year-old manager has been given another lifeline as he is expected to remain as the club manager at least for another week. This might be the last opportunity for Solskjaer to redeem himself as the upcoming fixtures are similarly daunting.
United will be facing Tottenham Hotspur and another under-pressure manager in Nuno Espírito Santo in the Premier League on Saturday 30th October followed by Manchester City next week and a Champions League fixture against Atalanta sandwiched in between them. If he fails to deliver against Spurs, the board might make up their mind that is enough is enough.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Remains in Charge But Search for Replacement Has Begun
Liverpool Showed No Mercy In Thrashing the Red Devils at Old Trafford
This is one of the fiercest rivalries in the football world and Liverpool were not in a mood to respect it. After the humiliating defeat, multiple unwanted records have been broken by Manchester United and it has made it their ‘darkest night’.
The United team were all over the field with little coordination, zero strategies and zero defending whereas it was the complete opposite for the other side. A defensive error handed the visitors a goal as early as in the fifth minute with the majority of the remaining five scored because of defensive mistakes.
They scored four goals in the first half which was the first time United had conceded that many goals in one-half. The scoreline would have been even more at the full time had Liverpool continued their pace but they took their foot off the gas.
The 5-0 defeat to Liverpool was their heaviest one at home and it was also the first time a Liverpool team had scored five goals at Old Trafford since 1955. Mohamed Salah who became the highest-scoring African in the Premier League with his hattrick also became the only player in the Premier League to do so at Old Trafford.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer On Borrowed Time
The embarrassment has taken a toll on everyone especially the manager, who considered it the ‘darkest day’ of his United career. He said that there was no time to sulk and they must move on to face their next challenge. When asked if he was the right man to lead hereafter in the post-match interview, he said to Sky Sports;
“We’ve come too far as a group and we’re too close to give up now. I’ve heard nothing else [about a potential departure]. This is the lowest I’ve been, but as I’ve said, I accept the responsibility. I do believe in myself, I do believe that I am getting close to what I want with the club, I think what we’ve done, what I’ve seen, the development, of course, the results lately haven’t been good enough. But I’ve got to keep strong and I do believe in what we’ve been doing, the coaching staff and the players.”
It happens to be seen how far his optimism can save his job as the club is reported to be looking elsewhere to transfer the responsibilities. The replacement has not yet been decided, but it is believed that the former Inter Milan manager, Antonio Conte is the front-runner for the role.
There are various reports suggesting that the club has made official contact with the manager, but the reliable source, Fabrizio Romano has denied it although he has added that Conte is very happy to join if the club approaches him.
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