Sacking Solskjaer isn’t the answer to Manchester United’s problems

There have been calls from a portion of the Manchester United fans to sack Solskjaer but that is not the answer to the club’s problems.

Much has been made of Manchester United’s disappointing start to the season, and it’s only natural that with a poor start, the manager’s future will come into question. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has only been in the job since 2018, taking over from the toxic environment shrouding the club whilst Jose Mourinho was in charge.

His tenure so far has not been without its ups and downs, finishing 6th in the league in his first season and 3rd last season. Many fans would say his biggest triumph is overseeing the signing of Bruno Fernandes, a player who has arguably transformed United’s style of play and performances of late. This begs the question though that if the Portuguese was to suffer from an injury, had to isolate or wanted to leave the club, would Solskjaer’s managerial career at Old Trafford be in danger?

Despite splitting opinion, sacking Solskjaer mid-season doesn’t seem to make much sense, especially with the replacement that seems to be lining up for the job being Mauricio Pochettino. Like Solskjaer, Pochettino will have a long-term vision that will need executing. But this vision will be useless if the board continues to refuse to spend money on the manager’s top targets.

With the board refusing to acquire top targets of the past few managers, most recently the disappointing Jadon Sancho saga that spanned the entire summer, why would a change in manager make much of a difference?

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Hiring Pochettino mid-season makes even less sense when you consider the likelihood that he wouldn’t have a proper January transfer window. He would finish the season with players that are not his and would likely face difficulty implementing his style on this squad, especially when so much of the team’s best football goes through Fernandes.

Changing manager is not something that the board will take lightly, especially when you realise how much support Solskjaer will have due to his time as a player with the club. Politics will always play a part at big clubs.

Even though Pochettino’s camp may be forcing the narrative that it’s now or never for the club to obtain his services, this doesn’t mean he has to take Solskjaer’s job instantly. If the disappointing form continues, it may be a possibility that the board could agree to let the Argentine take over in the summer and let the Norwegian finish the season in order to maximise stability.