Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: Manchester United fans react to new caretaker manager

Former Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been confirmed as the club’s new caretaker manager.

United’s fans were made aware of the club’s intentions on Tuesday night after an article briefly appeared on ManUtd.com official website announcing his appointment prematurely.

An official announcement was made on Wednesday morning, with the club confirming Solskjaer will be joined by Sir Alex Ferguson’s former assistant Mike Phelan.

Read more: Jose Mourinho sacked as Manchester United manager

“Manchester United is in my heart and it’s brilliant to be coming back in this role,” Solskjaer said. “I’m really looking forward to working with the very talented squad we have, the staff and everyone at the club.”

Ed Woodward, United’s executive vice chairman, added: “Ole is a club legend with huge experience, both on the pitch and in coaching roles. His history at Manchester United means he lives and breathes the culture here and everyone at the club is delighted to have him and Mike Phelan back. We are confident they will unite the players and the fans as we head into the second half of the season.”

Reaction to ‘appointment’

The appointment has pleased some commentators online who feel the club needs to reconnect with the fanbase and play attacking football.

Others are more concerned at his ability to challenge Ed Woodward and take control of the egos in the squad.

United hiring Solksjaer as interim, because they want 6 months to truly get the decision right + hire a DOF, is the smartest thing United have done in years. They just need to ensure they stick with the process and don't either, sack Ole or try to make him the permanent coach.

— Rowd (@RowdenJRSG) December 18, 2018

Warming to the idea of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer being called upon to sort out an unfolding Manchester United mess, if only on a temporary basis… pic.twitter.com/uE6NWglEW9

— Adam Hurrey (@FootballCliches) December 18, 2018

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is even a super sub as a manager.

— Greg Johnson (@gregianjohnson) December 18, 2018

Imagine being told in August that by Christmas Manchester United would have Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Mike Phelan in charge of the team. Football is wonderful.

— Daniel Storey (@danielstorey85) December 18, 2018

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to be appointed Manchester United boss less than five months after losing against @Glenavon_FC at Mourneview Park in the Europa League. What a surreal turn of events.

— Colin Millar (@Millar_Colin) December 18, 2018

Irony of possible Ole Gunnar Solskjaer caretaker appointment is he spoke out against the Glazers in 2005, three months before the takeover. #mufc

— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) December 18, 2018

I'm all in on Ole Gunnar Solskjær taking over for the next six months, along with Mike Phelan. No expectations on silverware or league position, just want to see attacking football return.

— Liam Canning (@LiamPaulCanning) December 19, 2018

How are United fans that wanted Mourinho out getting excited over Solskjaer and Phelan taking over?

Our fanbase is the most narrow minded on planet earth.

— Michael Tunstall (@ZeFutbolWriter) December 18, 2018

Ole Gunnar Solskjær is the perfect man for the Glazers and Ed. He will be a yes man and never challenge the board so they can put as little transfer investment as possible. It wouldn’t surprise me if they give him the job full time

— Mourinho Masterclass (@MourinhoLUHG) December 18, 2018

Solskjaer did an incredible job at Molde to begin with, reads the game well, has something special about him as a bloke, and knows what a United team and manager should be. I’d love a free hit seeing how he does.

— Daniel Harris (@DanielHarris) December 18, 2018

The more you look at it the whole Solskjaar thing is a blatant Woodward/Glazer PR stunt. Get the fans back onside with a club favourite, quieten everyone down and continue to ignore the real issues at the club. Sad part is the majority will and already have fallen for it.

— Mike (@Mike87_MUFC) December 18, 2018

Others have also brought up his record at relegation embattled Cardiff City as the debate rages on Twitter as to whether it is relevant.

Are we just pretending Solskjaer at Cardiff didn't happen?

— Alex Richards (@AA_Richards) December 18, 2018

Antonio Conte was sacked by Atalanta in 2010 with club eventually relegated. 18 months later, he was named Juve boss and won three titles in a row. What Ole Gunnar Solskjær did at Cardiff is irrelevant to United

— Andrew Cesare (@acrcalcio) December 18, 2018

So it looks like Solskjaer it is at United, which will be absolutely staggering to anyone who witnessed his time at Cardiff.

— Chris Wathan (@ChrisWathan) December 19, 2018

My abiding memory of Solskjaer in management is him doing keepie-uppies with a balloon in a stadium storeroom after his umpteenth Cardiff loss. Good for technique, apparently. Utd legend, but not convinced it would be wise…

— Riath Al-Samarrai (@riathalsam) December 18, 2018