Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s position as Manchester United manager is safe, for now, but further disasters against Tottenham and Atalanta could cost him his job.
i understands that, contrary to reports in Italy, former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has not yet been sounded out as a potential replacement for Solskjaer. However, the Italian is interested in talking to United.
After such a humiliating defeat to their great rivals Liverpool at the weekend, widespread reports claimed Solskjaer could be sacked this week.
Sources have told i that the beleaguered Norwegian will be in charge for the weekend trip to Tottenham and their Champions League clash with Atalanta in Bergamo next week, at the very least.
Two further such humiliations would leave United’s season, that promised so much after such a successful summer transfer window, in tatters, and could see Solskjaer relieved of his duties, with a move for Conte then coming into view.
For now, things will stay as they are. The players, on the whole, are happy with the manager, even if some have expressed their discontent with how things are being run behind closed doors. After such an embarrassment against Liverpool, such a feeling of dissatisfaction is understandable, but the club are not unduly concerned about any dressing room conflict.
Conte is not seen by the club as the ideal long-term solution. Having previously witnessed big-name coaches come in and fail to restore the sleeping giant to its former glories, United’s hierarchy were keen to stick with a Solskjaer-type figure, one who looked at long-term progress rather than short-term gain.
The Glazer family owners had been happy with the direction the club had been moving in, having seen United’s league position gradually improve under Solskjaer, with the football on display also more pleasing on the eye.
They showed no hesitation in offering Solskjaer a new three-year contract in August, with assistant Mike Phelan, a key part of the Norwegian’s backroom staff, also penning an extension on his current deal.
Recent results, and more pertinently performances, have changed the mood around the club though, and left the hierarchy open to alternatives, even in the short term. Conte’s Premier League experience makes him attractive as that potential quick fix.
Solskjaer will at least get a stay of execution. The chances of him seeing out the season are slim, nonetheless, as it would take a turnaround of epic proportions for United to climb back up the table from their current nadir.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3bctgyx
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