Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is under increasing pressure once again as he oversaw his side’s humiliating defeat to Manchester City, less than two weeks after Liverpool came to Old Trafford and scored five goals.
Pep Guardiola’s side took an early lead in the game and that was only the beginning – they were comfortable for the entire 90 minutes and barely broke a sweat as United were left to chase shadows.
Roy Keane was particularly damning in his assessment of this United side, claiming it was men versus boys at Old Trafford.
Solskjaer has now given an uncharacteristically honest assessment of his Manchester United team, having previously preferred to deflect criticism.
🗣"I can't look at myself and say this is the way I want Manchester United to play."
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer speaks honestly about needing Manchester United to be on the front foot more pic.twitter.com/69JLC8AEgr
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) November 6, 2021
Read more: (Video) “It felt worse” – Roy Keane says Man Utd outdid Liverpool embarrassment vs Man City
“I’m sure when we come back, the players will be fresh in their minds after internationals,” he told Sky Sports after the game, as seen above. “Of course, the demands on me and the players are going to be high.
“We’ve just got to get back to what we started to look like and what we were for a while, and we’ve got the players to do that.
“We’ve been through this a few tiems. Of course, since the last game we played here, it’s been a very difficult period. We’ve gone away from what we used to be.
“We went to Tottenham, solid, win 3-0 with a different system, get a good result against Atalanta with a different system. System or style, we need to be on the front foot more. I can’t look at myself and say this is the way I want Man United to play.”
SN’s verdict on Solskjaer’s comments…
Solskjaer’s post-match verdict was candid and honest, something he has often resisted being in the past. More often than not, he has attempted to deflect criticism in order to maintain a happy camp.
Now, he is slightly defiant and seems to accept the fierce scrutiny coming his way. Solskjaer looks intent on turning this dire situation around following the international break but only time will tell if he is given the chance to do so.
Solskjaer has done well to get Manchester United to a position where they are ready to kick on but there are few signs to suggest he is the right man to lead the Old Trafford club through to the next phase in their development.
Heavy investments were made over the summer but only Cristiano Ronaldo has had a real impact. The 36-year-old has scored nine goals in 12 appearances since sealing his second coming but not even he could save Solskjaer’s from Saturday’s dismal defeat.
Just axe Greenwood and Luke Shaw. Everything will be ok.