Pranav Nair
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer cannot afford to miss out on the UEFA Champions League last 16
According to The Express, Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could find his position at the club under threat should they fail to qualify for the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League.
The Red Devils suffered a shock loss in their Champions League opener against Young Boys last week. This gives them less room for error going into the final five games of the Group Stage.
United face Villarreal next week in what will be a repeat of last season’s Europa League final. Solskajer has since strengthened his side and will be expected to take all three points at home. Anything less than that will put him in a very precarious position.
Despite the riches at his disposal, Solskjaer’s men have struggled to showcase consistently good performances this season. While there have been some excellent outings, we have also scraped through a few games that can be viewed as potential banana skins.
More so, the losses to Young Boys and West Ham United in the Carabao Cup have raised questions regarding the Norwegian’s managerial ability. While it can be argued that the latter saw us field a weaker team, there was enough quality on the field to see the game out.
Enough is enough!
According to the report, Solskjaer hasn’t won a trophy since the 2013 Norwegian Cup win with Molde. He is now in his third full season as Red Devils manager and has been backed well in the transfer market.
Concerns over his suitability for the role were raised when United failed to make it out of their Champions League group last season despite winning their first two games.
Fate will not be kind to him should he repeat it this time around. The Red Devils have been drawn alongside Young Boys, Atalanta and Villarreal. A rather straightforward group, any failure will sorely rest on the manager’s shoulders.
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Solskjaer has to his credit steadied a rocking ship at United and has also helped build a formidable squad. All that will be for nought unless he delivers success on the pitch. Time is running out for the Norwegian to end the Red Devils’ five-year wait for a trophy.
