Does Solskjaer deserve more respect for his time managing Man Utd?

Tottenham Hotspur’s goalkeeper equalizer gave Manchester United a five-game winning run.

In the Premier League, they are now just two points clear of Chelsea, who is currently in seventh place.

After two disappointing seasons, Old Trafford is now more confident that United are heading in the right direction.

However, they only finished second under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer just over four years ago, scoring 73 goals, the most goals in a single campaign since Sir Alex Ferguson’s era ended in 2013.

They won three of their opening four games and finished the 2021-22 season top of the standings with a draw.

Solskjaer has a cruel plot, which is cruel. After being let go by Jose Mourinho in December 2018, the 52-year-old was fortunate to be appointed interim United manager following spells with Molde, where he won the Norwegian title, and Cardiff, where he was relegated.

Then, the fact that he should never have been given a permanent job, let alone a job extension, and that his shortcomings were eventually exposed as he lost his job following a disastrous 4-1 defeat at Watford, which ended a terrible run of results, including a 5-0 home defeat by Liverpool.

Is the evaluation merely cherry-picking the negatives, then?

People who spoke about Solskjaer’s appointment and dismissal have a more positive outlook.

A source who closely followed Solskjaer throughout his nearly three-year tenure said, “He is absolutely much better than many people give him credit for.”

Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward called Solskjaer back to the club he had so memorable service to as a player and coach with the simple goal of bringing a smile back to Old Trafford after Mourinho’s dismissal.

He almost immediately did it.

When Solskjaer returned to the Carrington training facility, where he was so well-known, and gave beloved receptionist Kath Phipps a hug, a kiss, and some of her favorite chocolates, he knew so well and where he was so well-known.

At the staff Christmas party, he showed up unexpectedly. According to those who were present, he received an A-list celebrity-like kind of treatment.

The impact grew more and more profound.

Solskjaer is a positive person by nature.

A former colleague called him “an optimist to the max.” He sees good in everything, he says.

“It was little things, like saying, “Good morning, how are you doing?” basically being human. Everything was very flat and had been on a downer. People were not being themselves. They began to smile once more when he opened the door.

It is stressed that Solskjaer was not returning the club to the Ferguson era. However, he believed that the Scots’ regime had potential in the modern era.

He had high standards. As blazers and ties returned, the dress code on away trips changed. Carrington expanded to include everyone. A wider range of people can access the club canteen.

At the start of his reign, which included 14 victories, two draws, and one defeat in his first 17 games, helped the general mood become lighter and more upbeat.

When United traveled to Paris St-Germain and won 2-1 thanks to Marcus Rashford’s stoppage-time penalty, their defeat was recompensed.

The club’s success in reaching the Champions League quarter-finals, which they have only been able to achieve twice since they were defeated by Barcelona at Wembley in the 2011 final, is high on the list of their European accomplishments.

This was a mistake, according to his critics.

Negotiators continue to refute those who have spoken out against them.

An insider told the BBC that “people spoke about his philosophy, but Kieran [McKenna] led training.”

Ole watched the coaching while he was on the grass. His methods resembled Carlo Ancelotti in some ways.

He excelled in controlling the players. The culture was incredible. He maintained a close relationship. Everyone wanted the same football style that the players had in mind.

On the pitch, it appeared.

United ended Solskjaer’s two full seasons in third and second place, which was the league’s highest position since Ferguson’s retirement, after finishing sixth there for the first time. In cup competitions, they advanced to five of the final six.

Crucially, though, no victories were made. The penalty shootout defeat to Villarreal in the 2021 Europa League final was when goalkeeper David de Gea’s missed spot-kick was decisive.

A problem was the lack of silverware.

The insider claimed that it was “like an albatross he carried.” People kept asking “will he win something” especially in the second full year. ‘”.

Despite this, Solskjaer and his team were believed internally. He was given a contract extension through 2024 in July of that year. Woodward claimed that the foundations are now “for long-term success.”

The return of Cristiano Ronaldo added to Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane’s big-money signings, and the Portugal legend doubled his debut goals against Newcastle and Manchester United rose to the top of the Premier League. The atmosphere was upbeat.

The ultimate false dawn came to pass.

Ronaldo’s arrival has been reported to have thrilled almost exclusively the United dressing room. Solskjaer hoped the new forward would set standards and demonstrate to team-mates what was required to achieve success.

Ferguson desired him. Ward wanted him, too. Fans desired him.

A dressing room source claimed that the issue was with Ole and Kieran’s way of introducing the team. “You couldn’t carry too many players who didn’t track back,” It needed support, and it needed press.

Ole was unable to make the system work, which is acceptable for a large player. Ronaldo was successful, but his arrival significantly altered a system he had been developing for two and a half years.

Six defeats in 11 games over the course of two months, including Liverpool’s startling home defeat, came to an end. The end came when United conceded twice in stoppage time at Watford.

Some people believe that was unfair.

The dressing room source claimed, “That game was a mess. Everything seemed to have gone wrong, according to the scorecard.

“It hadn’t, but that’s when you need support,” he said. The common rumors about “losing the dressing room” started. He didn’t ever. He might have lost one or two players, but they’re typically the ones who aren’t being chosen.

In a brief but heartfelt meeting with Woodward the following morning, Solskjaer was privately aware that his time was up and that his final rites would be performed.

Someone with knowledge of the decision-making process says, “Maybe Ole would have eventually resolved it, but he didn’t in those first few months, and the club was in a bad place.”

As it turned out, United won 10 of their next 18 games with the same group of players under the leadership of Michael Carrick, then lost just two of their subsequent 18 games to Ralf Rangnick.

Could Solskjaer have caused the same financial turnaround?