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Ole Gunner Solskjaer can turn around fortunes at Manchester United

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Roar Rookie
31st December, 2018
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His third season curse continued as Jose Mourinho was sacked right on time by Manchester United.

In what was a disastrous start to the season, Manchester United find themselves 22 points adrift of arch rivals Liverpool, albeit with a game in hand. While they reached the knockouts of the Champions League, defeat at the Mestalla against Valencia meant that Manchester United finished second behind Juventus in their group.

Being drawn against Paris in the round of 16 did not help Mourinho’s cause one bit.

What hampered Mourinho’s stint the most was the discord between him and the dressing room. He had a much publicised row with Paul Pogba, Luke Shaw found himself in and out of the first team, Alexis Sanchez got himself into the hot water, captain Antonio Valencia was dropped and Anthony Martial refused to commit his future.

David De Gea’s reluctance to sign a long term contract took a leverage away and 3-1 defeat against Anfield was a final straw on the camel’s back.

Wheels rolled quickly. Mourinho and Manchester United ‘amicably separated’. Former Manchester United fan favourite and current Molde manager Ole Gunner Solskjaer was brought in as an interim boss.

The return of Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant and former Sporting Director of A-League side Central Coast Mariners Mike Phelan alongside Solskjaer has already brought results. Players are smiling again and fans are optimistic.

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Solskjaer’s managerial stint began with a 5-1 away win at his former club Cardiff City followed by a 3-1 win against Huddersfield Town. Though without Romelu Lukaku, United wreaked havoc. Martial was full of finesse and Jesse Lingard was ruthless. However, it was Paul Pogba who looks like a changed player since the Portuguese’s dismissal.

Paul Pogba Manchester United

Can Pogba and the Red Devils turn it around under Solskjaer? (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Such dominant United were on the pitch that pundits compared them to Sir Alex’s sides at their peak.

However, Solksjaer must understand that much work is yet to be done. He should have his feet fixed to the ground and build on this commanding start. The squad has potential, but he should get the combination right and make a few changes.

There are a few ways in which Solskjaer can turn Manchester United’s season around-

1.Play with a formation to bring the best out of Paul Pogba
While United were superb in both their results so far, it was Paul Pogba who galvanised the team.

His passing was on the mark, he contributed in goals and carried the match for United.

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A small tweak done by Ole Gunner was playing with a 4-3-3 with Pogba-Matic-Herrera in the midfield at Cardiff.

Pogba thrived in the role of a Left Central Midfielder. It was the same position he occupied during his spell at Juventus where he grew from a boy to a man. Didier Deschamps played him in a similar role as France won the World Cup 2018.

Against Huddersfield at Old Trafford, Solksjaer opted for 4-2-3-1 with Pogba in the number 10 role. He floated around the midfield and repaid the manager’s faith with two goals at home.

Paul Pogba is the most suited player to play in an attacking role. With lesser defensive responsibilities, he thrives while going forward. In fact, he has contributed to more goals than any other central midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues this season.

While Manchester United has a talented squad, Pogba remains one of the only genuine world class players. He has the capability to change matches on his own should be crucial as Solksjaer looks to get maximum returns off his interim tenure.

2.Restore Antonio Valencia into playing XI
An aspect that highlighted Sir Alex Ferguson’s managerial stint was presence of leaders on and off the field in his squads.

Right from Bryan Robson and Neil Webb to Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra and Wayne Rooney, strong personalities formed the cornerstone for his Old Trafford success.

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Since Ferguson’s departure in 2013, United have lacked them. It has coincided with a barren period at Manchester United.

In Solksjaer’s current squad, Antonio Valencia and to some extent David De Gea, Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku remain the only strong personalities.

Youngster Dalot is talented and Young has impressed, but Manchester United should genuinely welcome Valencia back. He was one of their best players for last couple of seasons and contributed both in attack and defence.

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Manchester United’s captain possess the ability to lift spirits of the this team. He found himself out of the squad after falling out with Jose Mourinho. When the Portuguese was United’s manager, he pondered his Old Trafford future as well.

However, he recently reassured fans of United’s ambitions of making it to the top four and reaching the Champions League final this season.

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At 33, Valencia possibly has a few years to provide sizeable contributions for Man United. However, his talents of dressing room leader both on and off field make him crucial as Manchester United are looking to turn their season around.

3.Sign a central defender or two in the January transfer window
Manchester United’s public pursuit of a central defender proved frustrating for Mourinho. He wanted to improve Manchester United at the back and his concern was not futile.

With 30 goals conceded already in 18 Premier League matches, Manchester United have one of the worst defensive records this season. A funny antithesis to this stat is that United arguably have world’s best goalkeeper in David De Gea.

In his quest to solidify the heart of United’s defense, Mourinho tried with Eric Bailly, Victor Lindelof, Chris Smalling, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and midfielders Ander Herrera, Nemanja Matic, Scott McTominay to little avail.

United has talented defenders but barring Lindelof, none has been consistent. Talks are rife about United looking to sign at least one central defender in January transfer window.

Solksjaer can definitely work with an improvement on his existing crop of centre backs.

Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly is being linked with an around 90 Million pound transfer but he recently signed a new, improved contract without a buyout clause.

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Tottenham Hotspur’s Toby Alderweireld is being linked again while West Ham’s Issa Diop is being rumoured as we speak. Inter Milan’s Milan Skriniar, Leicester City’s Harry Maguire and AC Milan’s Alessio Romagnoli are also a few other names considered by Solksjaer. Gary Cahill might be a smart signing too.

Manchester United lack a top class centre back. Liverpool have it, so do Chelsea. Manchester City have more than one. January may not be the transfer window where a lot of transfer activity happens.

However, considering the attacking prowess of their Premier League rivals and a Champions League clash against PSG, Solksjaer is likely to take steps to improve on his centre defensive pool.

4.Win the dressing room back
Since the return of Solksjaer and Phelan, the mood in Manchester United’s dressing room has changed. Social media activities of players suggest the same.

Smiles are back in the dressing room. This vibe resonated against Cardiff City and Huddersfield Town as well.

One of the most impressive features of Sir Alex Ferguson was his shrewdness. He always kept players’ egos in check. He never let a single player’s attitude get over his squads.

He let go of Jaap Stam, David Beckham and Ruud Van Nistelrooy but didn’t let a squad member grow beyond himself. Since his departure, no manager has been able to do that.

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Moyes, Van Gaal and Mourinho; everyone went through a clash of egos and eventually lost their dressing room.

If initial reports are to suggest, Solksjaer has suggested that not only will he keep the dressing room in check, he won’t mind pulling out a ‘hairdryer’ if needed.

Ole Gunner Solksjaer knows the importance of holding his dressing room together as he wants to make the most of this reign.

5.Have the big guns commit their long-term future to Manchester United
Ander Herrera, Juan Mata, Phil Jones and Ashley Young are few of the first team regulars whose contract expires coming summer alongside captain Antonio Valencia.

Anthony Martial, David De Gea, Marcus Rashford, Eric Bailly, Nemanja Matic and Marouane Fellaini are among those whose contract runs till the summer of 2020.

Manchester United's French midfielder Anthony Martial

Anthony Martial in happier times. (AFP PHOTO / OLI SCARFF)

These players have regularly featured for Manchester United throughout last few seasons.
Under Jose Mourinho, many among these, especially Martial and De Gea pondered their future at the club.

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All of these form the core of Manchester United’s starting XI. Ole Gunner Solksjaer and Ed Woodward must convince these players to sign a contract extension and pledge their long term future to Manchester United.

This can be one of the ways for United to get the best out of their big guns through this season. Finally, Manchester United’s big guns will play a very big role to turn this season around.

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