Under-fire Solskjaer given three games to save his job

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer still believes he is the right man to lead Manchester United forward. Photo: AP Photo/Rui Vieira

Jason Burt

October 27 2021 02:30 AM

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been given three games to save his job as Manchester United manager.

Although senior sources insist it is not “absolute” he will be replaced if results continue to deteriorate before the next international break, the 48-year-old knows he is under threat and more poor results would make his position untenable.

United are understood already to have started the search for a new manager should Solskjaer be sacked, and part of the reason for delaying a decision is to give themselves more time.

United are away to Tottenham on Saturday, then travel to Atalanta in the Champions League on Tuesday before the visit of Manchester City the following Saturday.

However, the situation is so precarious that a change may be made earlier if there were to be a repeat this weekend of last Sunday’s 5-0 humiliation by Liverpool. Either way, Solskjaer has been given no guarantees that he will remain in charge beyond the Spurs game.

The mood at the club’s Carrington training ground was turning to one of defiance yesterday. As the players returned after a day off, there was a sense of wanting to get behind the manager. Solskjaer addressed the squad and went through some of the recent failings in the hope of drawing a line under them and creating a “siege mentality” given the criticism United have faced.

Alex Ferguson and former chief executive Martin Edwards were at Carrington but it was for a pre-planned appointment and there were no talks with Solskjaer, who was also at the facility on Monday, when his future was discussed.

Sources insist there is a growing determination to “turn things around so that Ole can remain as our manager” but there have been no assurances after talks with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and managing director Richard Arnold, even if it is understood that they want to remain supportive.

The two executives, who have been consulting with co-chairman Joel Glazer who will make the final decision, want to give Solskjaer more time because they have backed him from the start and are desperate for him to succeed. Solskjaer has also told them that he believes he is up to the job.(© Telegraph Media Group Limited)