Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wasn’t shy after his Manchester United side beat Cardiff City 5-1 in his first game as interim manager. The Norwegian took what appears to be a clear dig at his predecessor José Mourinho, while encouraging his new group of players.
The Reds were terrific in their thrashing of Cardiff City and with our terrible away form this season, people are quick to draw parallels with Mourinho’s style of management.
With reason as the players looked happier to express themselves, clearly asked to by their new manager, and never looked like putting their foot off the gas. You could describe it as “an empathic attacking performance” like Caught Offside have done.
READ MORE: Video: Rashford explains how Solskjaer asked players to be positive on ball in thrashing over Cardiff
While it was only Cardiff, we must take into account that Solskjaer has only had two days to familiarise himself with this group of players and to have them play the way they did today was remarkable. It should get even better.
Rather than slate the players for appearing to perform out of their skins for a new manager to suggest they weren’t under Mourinho, perhaps this is the way these players are built to play and the Portuguese tactician was incapable or too headstrong by playing an alternative way?
It’s clear the best form of defence with this bunch of players is attack.
Speaking to BT Sport after the match, as quoted by Chris Winterburn below, Solskjaer made it clear he’s a very different coach to Mourinho and his overview of this squad suggests just that.
Instead of complaining about transfers, Solskjaer is going to try get the best out of what he currently has and there’s something admirable about that.
See the series of tweets below.
Solskjaer, “Football is easy if you have good players. They have such quality, it’s unbelievable.”
— Chris Winterburn (@cmwinterburn) December 22, 2018
Solskjaer, “It’s been a tough week for them to be fair, I just told them to be Man United.”
— Chris Winterburn (@cmwinterburn) December 22, 2018
Solskjaer, “I think that’s the easiest thing to work on, work rate is free.”
— Chris Winterburn (@cmwinterburn) December 22, 2018
Solskjaer, “We had a session on pattern play yesterday and I’m pleased we saw that today.”
— Chris Winterburn (@cmwinterburn) December 22, 2018
Solskjaer, “Every game gives you different challenges. The foundation was in defending, I thought the centre backs and full backs we absolutely fantastic today.”
— Chris Winterburn (@cmwinterburn) December 22, 2018
Solskjaer, “It’s a great dressing room, they have the Man United badge on their shirt for a reason, because they’re quality players.”
— Chris Winterburn (@cmwinterburn) December 22, 2018
Solskjaer, “We take one game at a time, we’ve caught up 8 or 9 points before but we have to go one game at a time. Let the boys enjoy tonight and then we look forward. There is still work to be done. Me and Mick have come in with some ideas.”
— Chris Winterburn (@cmwinterburn) December 22, 2018
Solskjaer, “You feel proud and humble and it’s been an emotional week, but it’s a start and we move on. Nothing goes into the past quicker than a game of football.”
— Chris Winterburn (@cmwinterburn) December 22, 2018
