Times are changing at Old Trafford. Jose Mourinho was sacked from his role as Manchester United boss on Tuesday morning, before the club moved quickly to appoint former player and ex-Cardiff City boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as an interim coach.
The Norwegian manager has a more attacking and free-flowing philosophy, as opposed to the flat, rigid and drab football that characterised the late months of Mourinho’s reign in Manchester.
Solskjaer has the boost of some first-team faces returning to fitness, as well as the ability to recall some players who were frozen out by their former boss.
Here are some possibilities for Man United’s starting XI on Saturday against Cardiff.
Pogba to return?
Paul Pogba has been a much-maligned figure at Old Trafford in recent months, and did his reputation no favours with a social media faux pas in the wake of Mourinho’s sacking. After being frozen out by his former boss, Solskjaer may bring the Frenchman back in from the cold.
Solksjaer will want his Man United side to carry much more of a threat on the attack and take the game to opponents, meaning that Pogba should theoretically be vital given that much of the Red Devils’ creativity came from his boots during the Mourinho era. His left foot and passing range should get things moving again.
Lingard, Rashford and… Martial?
Romelu Lukaku has been very inconsistent this season, despite impressing for Belgium during the World Cup in the summer, scoring six times in 16 appearances, with four of those coming in the first five games of the Premier League season. The 25-year-old has gone off the boil and has recently slowed attacks down.
Including Anthony Martial, who is now fully fit after injury, would be a positive change – a shift in mentality is needed after Solskjaer’s arrival. Lukaku will be useful over the course of the campaign, but Martial’s seven goals in his last nine games point to far better form. In combination with the energetic pairing of Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard, Cardiff would struggle to keep them out.
Fellaini out?
Marouane Fellaini was one of Mourinho’s most dependable players at United, introduced to add a physical edge in midfield or act as an auxiliary forward when things were getting desperate towards the end of games. Fellaini serves a purpose, but including the Belgian is not the positive step forward that Solskjaer should take.
Instead, a midfield three anchored by Nemanja Matic could then be improved upon with the creativity of Pogba and the energy of one of either Fred or Ander Herrera. The latter pair can offer attributes that suit pressing a little higher and stepping out to rob possession, without sacrificing technical ability on the ball.
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