Ole Gunnar Solskjaer aka “Baby faced assassin” will always be remembered for his great service for the Red Devils and most importantly the goal scored in the dying moments of the 1998/99 Champions league final which is still regarded as one of the best moment in the history of football.
Solskjaer made a triumphant return to Manchester United as a caretaker manager in 2018. The spell of Ole from 2019 to 2020 was full of ups and downs but surely was an epic run. However, in a recent podcast he had shared some news of the dressing room which has left the fans shocked.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reveals some players’ unwillingness to play
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the former Manchester United manager, took a dig at the players in a recent podcast hosted by Gary Neville. He didn’t hold back, criticizing some players’ behavior and revealing insights from the dressing room during his tenure.
Reports suggest that in the podcast, he highlighted players’ actions and behaviors. In his last game against Watford, trailing 2-0, he sensed his impending dismissal. During the team talk, he asked players who wanted to play, making changes in the second half based on their responses.
Fans were left surprised by this interview, as Rashford and McTominay were subbed off during the halftime in Solskjaer’s last match. Thus this has led to speculation that Ole was talking about players like Rashford and McTominay, who were unwilling to play the match.
Rashford who was previously questioned by the fans over his loyalty towards the club again received backlash, Meanwhile McTominay also got a stick from the fans in various social media platforms. Ole also expressed his disappointment over the the behavior of the players and their rejection for the captain’s armband.
He provided a dressing room insight, stating, “No one said ‘No’ to being the club captain; it was just for certain games.” He further mentioned that players didn’t directly communicate this but that he had to hear it from others, describing this action as “petty and showing a lack of ambition.”
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United spell
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s tenure began in 2018 when he took over from Jose Mourinho as the caretaker manager. He secured his first victory with a 5-1 scoreline, marking the first time Manchester United had won with five or more goals since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013. Solskjaer gained momentum, winning 10 out of 13 games, including the memorable comeback against PSG, which earned him the permanent managerial position at Manchester United.
In his debut season, he guided the team to a third-place finish and secured UEFA Champions League qualification. In his second full season, Manchester United finished second in the league, trailing Manchester City by just 12 points. Despite reaching the final of the UEFA Europa League, the Red Devils were defeated in a penalty shootout.
However during his third season he was sacked after his poor run in the league. Even though Ole didn’t win any silverware as a Manchester United but surely gave a glimpse of a better future for all the United fans. Manchester United under Ole went on to set a record of longest unbeaten run away from home i.e. 29.
Ole is still a player who is loved by all the Manchester United fans. Even Though his time in Manchester didn’t go as planned, he will always be remembered as the Manager who brought back the identity of Manchester United.
