Does Solskjaer deserve more respect for his time managing Man Utd?
- Published
After two woeful seasons, optimism is growing around Old Trafford that United are moving in the right direction, yet it is only just over four years ago they finished second under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, scoring 73 goals, the most in a single campaign since Sir Alex Ferguson's era ended in 2013.
It leads to the question: is it time to reappraise Solskjaer's time as Manchester United boss? The topic feels relevant given that Friday marked four years since Solskjaer was sacked on 21 November 2021.
There is a narrative around Solskjaer that he was lucky to be appointed after Jose Mourinho's dismissal, that he should never have been given the permanent role and that his shortcomings were exposed after a terrible sequence of results.
But speaking to people involved in Solskjaer's appointment and dismissal, there is a more positive view.
"He is absolutely far better than many people give him credit for," said a source.
Solskjaer brought a smile back to Old Trafford, created a lighter mood, and delivered a sensational run of results at the start of his reign.
Against that backdrop, Solskjaer became permanent manager. His critics say this was a mistake, but those involved argue otherwise.