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Manchester United sacked Mourinho on 18th December and announced that a caretaker manager would be appointed who would see out the remainder of the season, while the club decided on a permanent successor. Within a day, it was announced that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would take charge of the club till the end of the season, as the caretaker manager.
The Norwegian is currently under contract at Norwegian Club Molde FK, where he has recently signed a contract extension until 2021. As such, Manchester United have basically taken their caretaker manager on loan from Molde for the remainder of the season. Erling Moe will be in charge as the first-team coach of Molde till Solskjaer returns at the end of the season.
The appointment of Solskjaer has caused some mixed reactions. While almost everyone has welcomed the Baby Faced Assassin back with open arms, some are sceptical about his abilities to manage a team in the stature of Manchester United. Yet it is also true that it would be hard to find someone better interested in a caretaker job.
The appointment of Solskjaer can be a step towards the right direction for Manchester United this season and today we look at 3 reasons why the Norwegian is a good choice as a caretaker manager for Manchester United:
#3 His Knowledge of the Club
The Norwegian is no stranger to the demands of the Premier League, having played for over a decade here. While his brief stint with Cardiff City was not memorable by any standards, Solskjaer will be in a familiar territory at Old Trafford.
He knows the club well, knows the demands of the fans and the board. He also knows what Manchester United represent and as such, he is well equipped to handle the pressures of the job. Besides, this will also be a chance for him to redeem his managerial career, something that will inspire him to get results.
Solskjaer had also played alongside Carrick in his last season at Old Trafford, so those two will also get along well. He has also worked with Pogba previously when he was in charge of the Reserves Team at Manchester United and has already expressed his desire to build the team around the Frenchman.
As such, he will feel at home right from day one and this will aid in the transition.
#2 Presence in Dressing Room
The Manchester United Dressing room requires someone who the players can look up to in awe. Solskjaer has won everything on offer during his time at Old Trafford and as such, he will have the respects of the players. He will have the backing of the board and it will be the first time since Sir Alex's departure that the club might be reverting back to the great Scot's ideology.
In the dressing room though, the Norwegian will hardly be intimidated by the big egos. He might be called the Baby Faced Assassin, but Solskjaer does not shy away from speaking his mind if there's something he doesn't like, as former players would clarify.
Once in the dugout, he will have the full backing of the fans and supporters alike. He has openly admitted that he has gathered most of his managerial knowledge by watching Sir Alex Ferguson in close quarters.
He had also assisted Sir Alex in training the strikers during his last season before retirement. As such, Ole has all the ingredients to demand the respect of his wards.
#1 Style of Play
Mourinho's reign at Manchester United was filled with boring, one-dimensional football where the emphasis was put on securing the back and being cautious in attack.
It was the same philosophy that had been employed by his predecessor Louis van Gaal and for almost 5 years, Old Trafford has been yearning for some fluid attacking football. This is where Solskjaer's playing style might suit United right now.
The Norwegian is a totally different person from the one who had taken charge at Cardiff City and he has learnt from his experience well. Molde FK played a fabulous season under his guidance, finishing second in the league this season.
Solskjaer's team played with speed, precision and flair and had it not been for a lean patch in the summer, Molde would have finished top of the table. Interestingly, his team scored the most goals in the league! It is this style of play that he will look to implement at Old Trafford now and it will greatly benefit the players at his disposal.
Manchester United has a team beaming with attacking talent and it is only fair that the team should play to its strengths. As such, one can hope that Solskjaer's preferred tactics will be the first step forward to reviving Manchester United's season.
