Man Utd: Solskjaer discusses relationship with Woodward
Manchester United players have demanded Ed Woodward keep Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on as manager, despite the Red Devils’ mixed start to the Premier League season. The Red Devils eased some of the pressure on the Norwegian with a 2-1 victory over Tottenham on Wednesday, with a Marcus Rashford brace ruining Jose Mourinho’s return to his old club.
Man Utd chief Ed Woodward has been confronted by players over Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Image: GETTY)
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United have gone through three managers since Sir Alex Ferguson cruised off into the sunset back in 2013.
David Moyes was the first to chance his arm but lasted just 10 months into a six-year contract, with the club axing him following their failure to qualify for the Champions League.
Louis van Gaal lasted two years before being replaced by Mourinho - despite winning the FA Cup with a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace.
And Mourinho spent two-and-a-half years at Old Trafford before being sacked back in December with the club stuck in a rut.
Woodward recently admitted that he’d found it ‘grim’ sacking the three managers.
“Grim,” he said when asked how he felt doing the deed.
“It’s not a pleasant experience and I hope I never have to do it again.”
Meanwhile, United legend Gary Neville has praised the job Solskjaer is doing - but expressed a belief that he needs more signings.
“Ole needs to spend the owners’ money in January,” Neville said during an appearance on talkSPORT. “He is doing what I call a ‘pure job’.
“He is essentially clearing out Van Gaal and Mourinho’s players and tried to bring in players who were young and British in the summer, with Daniel James, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire.
“But these players are not mature enough, they haven’t got enough experience or quality in the squad and they’re suffering badly.
“They’re well short in terms of investment and quality. Ole doesn’t want to just be clearing the decks for other people to come in and benefit, he needs to make sure he benefits from it.
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“And so he needs to spend the money and be ruthless with the board. It takes a lot for me to say these things publicly because I’m so connected to the club, but he needs to spend their money and he needs to spend it well.
“I would say he needs a couple of midfield players and he needs a striker – that’s essential. A minimum of a midfield player and striker in January.
“He needs to line up two or three experienced players, because their current players are struggling on the pitch without guidance. They really are struggling, they need support out there.
“You look at James, Mason Greenwood, Scott McTominay, Andreas Pereira, Marcus Rashford, they all need experience alongside them.
“There’s no doubt they’re giving their all, but without some guidance, it’s just really difficult.”