Pranav Nair
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer unhappy over dropped substitute rule
According to MEN, Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hit out at the Premier League for reverting back to three substitutions per game.
Following the coronavirus suspension last season, Premier League bosses made the decision to increase the number of substitutions allowed from three to five per game.
“Hundred per cent [I would have liked to have had five subs in the league] and I don’t understand and I cannot believe the vote went against.”
However, the rule was not carried over to this season after the Premier League clubs voted against it.
While the rule may not benefit clubs that are not in European competitions, the likes of Manchester United could have benefitted.
With a heavy schedule to tackle, the likelihood of making more changes would have helped managers give their players a rest.
“We have to look after the players and think about the players.”
However, now with two fewer substitutions to make, clubs may not be able to rotate their squads as much as they would have liked to. Solskjaer believes this places his stars at an increased risk of getting injured.
With a number of international tournaments scheduled for next year, players are unlikely to get downtime anytime soon.
With the current season set to be the most demanding in recent times, it makes no sense for the rule to be scrapped. Including international matches into the equations hardly does the players any favour.
“We as managers, as clubs, as medical staff, we have to look after them. That’s why we have to rest players at certain times. I would have liked to have had five subs.”
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As a small mercy, UEFA have retained the five substitute rule for European competitions. Solskjaer took advantage of it by using up all of his substitutions in our win over Leipzig.
The Norwegian is not the first top boss to voice his frustrations against the rule. The likes of Frank Lampard, Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have voiced similar concerns.
