Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Leaves Manchester United After Humiliation At Watford
The Norwegian, 48, presided over yet another humiliating defeat as a 10-man Manchester United were routed 4-1 by a quicker, faster Watford side in the Premier League on Saturday.
A performance that demonstrated, yet again, United’s inability to impose themselves on a game of football despite possessing a squad brimming with both talent and youth.
One solitary EPL win in seven has seen United slip down the table and with seemingly no solution to a run that has had many calling for the head of the Norwegian.
Reports emerged after the match that the United board had been scrambled for an emergency meeting to discuss Solskjaer’s position. And on Sunday the club announced that the former striker has left.
Solskjaer’s recent downturn has seen the club begin to shortlist potential successors. Betting aggregator Oddschecker has Zinedine Zidane and Brendan Rodgers as the two frontrunners.
They also, perhaps bizarrely, have Cristiano Ronaldo at 25-1.
United’s poor run, exemplified by a 5-0 reverse at home against Liverpool on 24 October, has seen supporters lose patience with a man they revere for his past services to the club.
Not only that, but Solskjaer’s much-lauded ‘re-set’ had at times seemed to be working to bring attacking football and flare back to Old Trafford after very mixed seasons since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013.
But it gradually became tacitly accepted that the Norwegian did not possess the tactical acumen of his fiercest rival managers, and, since the Liverpool humbling, the joy of having a ‘United man’ in the dugout has lost its lustre.
The club acknowledged that Ole will always be a legend at Manchester United and it is with regret that we have reached this difficult decision.
While the past few weeks have been disappointing, they should not obscure all the work he has done over the past three years to rebuild the foundations for long-term success.
Ole leaves with our sincerest thanks for his tireless efforts as Manager and our very best wishes for the future.
His place in the club’s history will always be secure, not just for his story as a player, but as a great man and a Manager who gave us many great moments. He will forever be welcome back at Old Trafford as part of the Manchester United family.
Michael Carrick will now take charge of the team for forthcoming games, while the club looks to appoint an interim manager to the end of the season.
Sky Sport
