Prior to Solskjaer getting the Manchester United job permanently in March 2019, the club had been on a roll. Following the sacking of Jose Mourinho in December 2018, the club were in need of a miracle, Solskjaer was that miracle.
The club had been 11 points off fourth place, but following his caretaker appointment, went on an 8-game winning run, dragging themselves into fourth place in the process.
That miracle was completed at Paris, a 3:1 win at the Parc des Princes overturned a 2:0 loss at Old Trafford and that was all the convincing the club hierarchy needed to give Solskjaer the job permanently.
Since then, inconsistency has been the order of the day at Old Trafford. Big wins have been regularly followed by abject defeats. It has always been from the sublime in one week, to the ridiculous the next one.
To highlight how inconsistent Solskjaer’s team has been, I’d take us back to his most memorable results and the aftermaths.
PSG 1:3 Man Utd
Arguably Solskjaer’s biggest night as a United manager, the club’s youth players were at the forefront as Marcus Rashford’s stoppage time spot kick sealed qualification. Next game, Man Utd capitulated at the Emirates, losing 2:0 courtesy of a fluke goal from Xhaka and a penalty from Aubameyang.
Results didn’t improve whatsoever after the international break, with unconvincing wins over Watford and West Ham followed by a winless run to the end of the season which culminated in losses to Everton, Man City and Cardiff at Old Trafford; draws to Chelsea and Huddersfield. United scoring 2 goals in that process.
United 4:0 Chelsea
2019/20 began with a bang. A seemingly convincing 4:0 win over Chelsea in the first game of the season seemed to set United up for big things. United then failed to win any of their next three games after that and barely recovered until January.
City 1:2 United
Following the aforementioned implosion after the Chelsea win, another false dawn was ushered in after a 2:1 win at the Etihad. Solskjaer got his tactics right against a big opponent (as he usually does). What followed was a 1:1 draw at Old Trafford to struggling Everton and then a 2:0 loss to relegation threatens Watford on boxing day.
PSG 1:2 United
After a very unconvincing start to the new season, which peaked in a 1-6 loss to Spurs at Old Trafford, United seemed to steady the ship and as he always does, Solskjaer masterminded a 2:1 win at Paris Saint-Germain (again).
This wasn’t immediately followed by another catastrophe, but points were dropped to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and a loss to Arsenal at home sandwiched in-between a 5:0 win over Leipzig. It was another abject display in Turkey on Wednesday evening with United ‘defending like school boys’ and lacking ideas anytime they went forward.
Basically, inconsistency has been the order of the day sine Solskjaer became full time manager.
Rumours of Ole being relieved of his duties has resurfaced. The Athletic reports that a loss at Goodison Park could be the final nail on the coffin.
While these rumours might be unfounded, with several credible sources reporting that the United board have no intentions of pulling the trigger just yet, there still might be something in it. Pochettino is the man who has been regularly linked with the job since forever (as long as I could remember), and he’s the favourite yet again. He could have got the job had Solskjaer not got it the last time it was vacant.
David Moyes was sacked after a 2:0 loss to former club, Everton in April 2014, #Oleout hashtags surfaced on social media for the first time after a 4:0 loss at Goodison Park.
Could Saturday’s lunchtime kickoff be Solskjaer’s date with destiny?
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Tomorrow against Everton is his last chance