Ole Gunnar Solskjaer needs history to repeat itself : See what he said!!!
If Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to preserve his job and revitalize Manchester United’s season in the coming weeks, he needs history to repeat itself.
United have slid to sixth in the rankings, nine points behind the leaders, after picking up only four points from 18 games, including back-to-back home defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City.
Despite that poor run, Solskjaer has managed to keep his position, albeit it appears that this is due to a lack of suitable candidates rather than any real belief in his ability to turn things around.
Last year, United won seven of their last nine league games to climb from 14th to second place, and Solskjaer needs a similar run to relieve the mounting pressure on him.
READ ALSO: Manchester United open to loaning 22-year-old defender but on one condition
Solskjaer and his players returned to training on Tuesday after taking a week off to prepare for what is shaping up to be the most crucial phase of their volatile season.
United have 11 games between now and the end of the year, nine in the Premier League and two in the Champions League, in which Solskjaer cannot afford any more setbacks.
On Saturday, they face Watford, who has won just one in their last four games under Claudio Ranieri. Solskjaer could hardly have asked for a more welcoming opponent under that backdrop.
For Solskjaer, this is a must-win game. If he fails to do so, the pressure and scrutiny on him will increase, making it increasingly more difficult for the United board to defend their continued support for him.
After that, United travels to Villarreal, who defeated them in last year’s Europa League final, with a loss putting their chances of reaching the last 16 of the Champions League in jeopardy.
They head to Premier League leaders Chelsea for their third consecutive away game, where a fifth league defeat may spell the end for Solskjaer after nearly three years in command.
Given their poor league form at Old Trafford of late (one point from 12), Solskjaer must be grateful the next three games are away, as United great Denis Irwin has pointed out.
“We’ve got three away games in the next week or so, which might be helpful for us because our home form hasn’t been terrific recently,” Irwin added.
“It’s a big match. It’s a major match.” Start on the front foot at Watford and get back on track. Villarreal will not be easy, but we should be able to get a point there.
“And, of course, Chelsea is on the road.” It’s a big week for us, and we need to make sure we return, keep together, and try to get back on track.
“There’s no doubt that we’ve stuttered, and it’s been a difficult month and a half.” We got a good victory against Spurs, but the previous five or six league games had been challenging.
“As you’d expect from United, we’re under pressure now that we’ve dropped out of the top four and there’s a gap between us and the top two or three.”
Aside from a lack of genuine contenders to replace him, Solskjaer has been kept in his job because the teams above United have all had unexpected blips, unlike in recent seasons.
