United Likely to Dismiss Solskjær, Reports NRK Sport

It is the renowned The Guardian who late on Sunday evening claim to have information that Carrick, after the rounds of interviews, is now the favorite to land the job.

“United directors Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox are leaning towards Carrick”, writes the newspaper.

The Times and Daily Mail write the same, Carrick will now be in the driver’s seat for the job.

Michael Carrick, like Solskjær, is a big name in United circles and played a total of 464 official matches for the club during his career at Old Trafford (2006–2018). He was also an assistant under Solskjær when the Norwegian last managed United.

– Will decide on Monday

The Guardian claims that both Solskjær and Carrick have had face-to-face interviews with the United management, and although no one will be formally offered the job, the directors should be on their way to landing on a different solution than the Norwegian Christian wonder, writes The Guardian.

The website Talksport also has similar information. They write that United will decide on Monday who will get the assignment for the rest of the season.

They further write that Solskjær was originally seen as the favorite to take over the substitute position, but that Michael Carrick is now emerging as an equally relevant alternative.

Sky Sports writes that Carrick in particular impressed during the job interview, but that the United management is fully aware of Solskjær’s popularity the last time he was the club’s coach.

The channel writes that the United management will meet on Monday for new talks, but that it should be desirable to have a quick clarification so that the new coach gets as much time as possible to prepare the team for the match against Manchester City next weekend.

– It would be very strange

Former Liverpool star Steve McManaman, who played 364 games for United’s fiercest rivals, tells TNT Sports that he thinks the Old Trafford club will choose a different solution than the Norwegian.

– I think we would all be surprised if Ole came back. Having paid a lot of money to get rid of him, it would be very strange if they brought him back, says McManaman.

– They need blank slates and that they start again, and then it must be Michael Carrick who comes in. I think it’s a better job, he adds.

Think United may get cold feet

McManaman is not alone in being critical of Solskjær.

A long line of British experts and newspaper commentators have all taken the same line in the last week, they believe it would be wrong to give Solskjær, who was fired in 2021, a second chance.

NRK has discussed much of the criticism here.

Lars Tjærnås has experience both from the world of football, including as a Premier League assistant during Drillo in Wimbledon, but also from the media world as a writer for Aftenposten and TV expert for various channels.

He believes that it should ideally have nothing to do with United’s decision that roughly the entire British press and expert corps are critical of Solskjær, but fears he is wrong.

– We know that in practice it can still come into play. The most important reason is that they already have so many bad decisions and appointments behind them that it can be more tempting than otherwise to lend an ear to voices with weight, says Tjærnås to NRK.

– So, to the extent that it is almost a dead race, I actually and unfortunately think that there may be a factor that tips the weight of meat one way, he adds.

– Do you have a gut feeling about what United will choose?

– No. Have given it up when it comes to Manchester United and Ineoshe replies.

One thing is certain: whoever gets the job will not take over a club in perfect condition.

Now United are out of the League Cup, out of the FA Cup, 17 points behind Arsenal in the Premier League and without a game in Europe.

– I have to register Carrington tomorrow morning, that’s all I know. I have not received any indications (about who will be the new substitute), said United’s interim coach Darren Fletcher at the press conference after United’s defeat in the FA Cup on Sunday evening.

The loss against Brighton means that United will only play 40 games this season. They have not played so few games since the 45/46 season, right after the Second World War, writes The Telegraph.

– The players have to step up and gather themselves, Fletcher said at the press conference after the match.

Hargreaves to NRK: – Self-confidence is low

Former Manchester United player Owen Hargreaves, who played a total of 39 games for United during his four seasons from 2007-2011, believes the club has a difficult choice ahead of him.

Hargreaves, who now works as a TV expert on the ball island, is lukewarm on the idea of ​​Solskjær returning.

– Ole did a good job and finished, among other things, in second place. But the way he finished was obviously not very nice. Right now it is Fletcher who is a substitute, and who knows who it will be in the end, says Hargreaves to NRK.

– Who do you think United should choose?

– I have a gut feeling about who it will be, but I’m not going to say. But whoever takes over, it’s a big job. And you can keep changing managers as much as you want. It is the players on the field who have to find out, says Hargreaves to NRK.

Norwegian experts more positive

Viaplay commentator Kasper Wikestad is, like several other Norwegian experts, positive about a Solskjær return.

He believes Solskjær can be “an incredibly good choice” towards the summer.

– He is incredibly good with people. He is strong in football. He knows the club’s culture. He is very good at releasing energy, getting the best out of the people he works with around him and not least the players. So if you want to have an effect, I think he would have been an excellent choice for United, Wikestad told NRK on Dagsnytt 18 recently.

– Is it because you are Norwegian that you praise Solskjær so much?

– I would never say something I don’t mean, so obviously I mean it. And then it may well happen that you are somewhat colored by nationality. And then it could also be that you know Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s qualities well, says Wikestad.

– Must deliver from the start

He has noticed that there seem to be many British football experts and opinion leaders who are strongly critical of Solskjær getting the job once again.

– The critical voices are stronger and more numerous than they were when Solskjær came last. This means that he really has to deliver from the start, and if he is hired, it is a Manchester derby he will start with, so the pressure on Ole Gunnar Solskjær this time from the start is probably greater than it was last time, Wikestad believes.

But now it seems that a new Norwegian United adventure for Solskjær hangs in the balance. By all accounts, the answer to what the red shirts choose will come on Monday.