7 Manchester United Players who've improved under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign at Manchester United has resulted in quite a bit of improvement even though it may not always appear so.

The Norwegian, seeking to instill a Sir Alex Ferguson-era ethos into the side, is focused on engineering individual improvement in order to ensure team results. Despite having a thin squad from which to choose from, the former United player has managed to maintain a positive atmosphere and promote youth talent while also trusting his roster.

This is most apparent when one views the individual ascents of some of his players.

#1 Luke Shaw

The injury-prone Luke Shaw is no longer a one-spot option as he has been quite often deployed as the third centre-back in a back three. In fact, United have never lost when Shaw has been part of the back three, as the club’s three-man defensive deployment record in 2020 has been impeccable.

This has seen him being involved in him a dual ethos that has proven effective on several occasions. His ball play is tidy, and he now adds a new dimension to United’s attack, stepping out onto the midfield and often switching spots with Brandon Williams.

The youngster has had a tough time at Old Trafford but, under Solskjaer, he can again aim for that spark of excellence that he was hailed for during his teenage years.

#2 Aaron Wan-Bissaka

Already renowned for his formidable tackles and defensive prowess before arriving at Old Trafford, Aaron Wan-Bissaka's attacking attributes are the ones that are steadily improving, week in, week out.

He has been operating higher and delivering more crosses into the box, posing a constant danger as evidenced by the Chelsea game. In fact, Wan-Bissaka has created more open play chances in the Premier League this year than Trent Alexander-Arnold.

There was no doubt in his ability, he just required to add more consistency to his game. This is precisely what the Norwegian gaffer is seeking to improve upon, and the threat from the flank is slowly beginning to develop once again in traditional United fashion. Hard to get past, hard to catch, the Englishman may soon be a nightmare for any opposition player to take on.

#3 Marcus Rashford

Marcus Rashford was expected to lead the line under Solskjaer. However, this season the gaffer has preferred to deploy the youngster at left wing once and for all solving that selection dilemma.

The hallowed academy graduate brilliantly utilises his pace to exploit wide spaces and drive at defenders, a feat that has been rewarded with 19 goals in all competitions this season.

That high a number from a wide role is nothing short of outstanding. Had his campaign not been cut short due to injury, there is no saying how high that tally would have been.

#4 Anthony Martial

Anthony Martial was largely used on the left wing since his role switch under Louis van Gaal. However, Solskjaer has trusted him back at no.9.

In this position, Martial simply has an innate ability to link up with the midfield and his finishing is second to none at Old Trafford.

Further, the facts that he is slowly gaining the swagger and scoring regular goals once again speak volumes about how much he has improved under the manager. A simple statistic that further stamps establishes this fact is that Martial has managed to equal Lukaku’s 2018/2019 season’s tally of 15 goals in 14 fewer games this campaign.

#5 Nemanja Matic

Manchester City v Manchester United - Carabao Cup: Semi Final

Back to functioning as a holding midfielder Nemanja Matic has, since his return, provided the back four with much needed protection through his experience and selfless mindset. A testament to this protection is the fact that the Red Devils have kept 14 cleansheets in the 20 games that the Serb has started in this campaign.

When first purchased, the former Chelsea midfielder made all the difference tactically and now Solskjaer has been viewing him as a similar cog in his squad once more. More crucially, his role is a sporadic one, ensuring rested legs and aptly timed tactical inclusions.

The proof of this improvement could lie in the fact that has also been gifted with a one-year contract extension.

#6 Fred

The Brazilian midfielder has become an entirely different player under the Norwegian and is now a certain starter. Under Solskjaer, Fred has adapted to the Premier League's physicality and has been at the heart of United's midfield, always looking to win the ball and progress play upwards. His winning attitude is evident in the confidence with which he now operates.

The 2019-2020 statistics say it all- amongst United’s midfielders, Fred has attained the highest number of tackles, recoveries, and interceptions.

Fred has been United’s most consistent midfielder and certainly a contender for the club's player of the season.

#7 Scott McTominay

Though given his break by Mourinho, Scott McTominay's great performances against the likes of Barcelona and PSG in the the Champions League last season came under Solskjaer.

The starlet has a mindset that is adored by the fans and his workrate is outstanding. Further still, McTominay almost always poses a threat for the entirety of his stay on the pitch, something that the Red Devils have lacked since their glory days.

Before he got injured, the Scottish midfielder was one of the best players of the club this season and Solskjaer and the fans will be hoping for him to get back to business as usual.

It is fair to say that this improvement in overall quality is further proof of why Solskjaer is the right man to continue at the helm at Old Trafford. This is why the fans and the club continue to place their trust in him despite the fact that the improvement in quality isn’t fully apparent in the standings right now. Long-term trust has to be placed in the Norwegian to emulate Jurgen Klopp-esque results.

Edited by S Chowdhury