Why Manchester United’s match against Spurs could determine Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s future

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer faces his toughest test yet as Manchester United manager this weekend as his side make the trip to Wembley to face Tottenham. But here is why I believe the match could be a major determining factor in whether the Norwegian gets the job on a full-time basis.

Five wins from five is not a bad record. In fact, along with the great Sir Matt Busby, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s start as manager of Manchester United is the joint best any manager has ever achieved. Hoping to go one better and become the outright leader, he will need defeat Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs.

Not only do United take on Tottenham this Sunday, a team much more talented and less ‘Spursy’ than sides of the past, but one who are mounting a genuine title challenge only sitting two points behind champions Manchester City.

The Manchester United players are still recovering from their last two league games against Tottenham. Lucas Moura bagged a brace last time out at Old Trafford, netting his first, two minutes after Harry Kane broke the deadlock in what was a blistering start to the second half.

Much like the start to the first half last January at Wembley where a Christian Eriksen strike followed by a Phil Jones own goal rounded off a 2-0 victory.

However, that was a Manchester United team under the restraints and shadows of Jose Mourinho. Solskjaer’s rather sunny attitude and philosophies seem to be rubbing off on the players, although, on Sunday he faces a much sterner test than anything he has come up against so far.

Cardiff, Huddersfield, Bournemouth, Newcastle and Reading – teams you expect Manchester United to attack and be on the front foot against. As Solskjaer said in his press conference on Thursday: “That is our strength – going forward, attacking.” So why not utilise it, like they have!

Solskjaer has released the shackles from the players and given them a new lease of life full of freedom and opportunity to express themselves. Yes, there have been some tactical changes, like pushing the full-backs higher and starting Marcus Rashford as a central striker, but we’ve seen new managers come into clubs before and have an instant impact.

And that is why Sunday will give a clearer indication as to whether Solskjaer is cut out for the job full time. There is a greater need to focus on the opposition and install tactics and a system which tries to negate Spurs’ strengths, but without doing what Jose Mourinho and Louis Van Gaal often appeared to do and forgo the attacking methods.

As brilliant as it has been to watch, what we’ve seen from Solskjaer’s Manchester United so far could possibly have been achieved by another manager with a positive mentality and an understanding of the deep traditions.

So what makes Sunday different? It’s against a top-six side. A side who also want to be on the front foot whoever they play. With some top class quality players who know the system inside out.

The match will answer a lot of questions Manchester United fans have regarding Solskjaer and the vacant managerial position at their club. Can he go toe-to-toe with one of the world’s best managers and match him not just mentally but tactically. Will United shape up to handle Tottenham’s key players or will they continue their all guns blazing approach and find themselves exposed.

Under Jose Mourinho, fans, pundits and perhaps even the players excepted United were a long way off the top sides in the Premier League. However, there was also a feeling of, ‘someone can get a lot more out of this squad!’ And perhaps this weekend, we may see it.