What Does Solskjaer Success Mean?

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s dramatic turnaround of Manchester United’s form has been spectacular, but it is indicative of an inability to ‘get over’ the Ferguson era.

First, let’s set the record straight. While a waggy tailed labrador could probably have done a better job than Jose Mourinho given the miserable state of affairs at the club, Solskjaer has taken this a step further with some very smart management.

His use of Paul Pogba in giving him the freedom to play a quasi-No10 role has seen the Frenchman excel, as has Marcus Rashford in a more central role for the Red Devils. He also displayed the acute ability to adjust tactically for certain games - a classic Ferguson trait. This was shown by his use of Romelu Lukaku as a right sided forward against Arsenal to exploit the space left on the Gunners left flank by Sead Kolasinac.

There is little question that Solskjaer has proved more than an able manager of the club. He has proved this on both a tactical and a man management level - addressing each area to get the best out of his players. The PSG defeat was disappointing, but it was his first as United manager against a side containing Kylian Mbappe, Angel Di Maria and Dani Alves.

But does the success of him and the returning Mike Phelan point to a deep rooted problem? It has taken the return of two firm disciples of Alex Ferguson to actually galvanise any positive feeling around the club, as well as results. They have succeeded where Ferguson’s recommended replacement and two iconic Champions League winning managers have failed. True, it could be argued that Jose Mourinho and Louis Van Gaal were in their waning years, but they wouldn’t be too far off the tongues of pundits and journalists when asked to list the greatest managers of all time.

There seems to be an obsession with the ‘United Way’, something only reinforced by frequent media appearances and preachings from the Class of 92 bunch. Manchester United has become preoccupied with the concept, driven towards the ideals of fast paced attacking football with an emphasis on youth.

It could well be argued, though, that having your own ‘way’ of things is not necessarily a bad thing. Barcelona have one, stemming from the total football principles implemented by the likes of Rinus Michels and Johan Cruyff. They receive little criticism over it and are, in fact, praised and revered for it. They are seen as a producer of great football, pioneers and artists in becoming champions in the ‘right way’.

So perhaps a devotion to forging and maintaining a ‘way’ is not such a bad thing after all. Building a culture of attacking football and bringing in youth players is definitely a positive thing. But, at some point, there needs to be a move away from people linked directly to Ferguson.

That move may not have worked before, but with Van Gaal and Mourinho they had two managers who had their own, very much personalised, stylistic methods. Neither are managers who are particularly open to changing and adapting for others. With hindsight, it was never really going to work with either of them.

There will, however, be individuals out there who possess the same ideals as those held by the club. Solskjaer and Phelan are currently bridging the gap, but an eternal cycle of Ferguson devotees will surely cause stagnation - the club would struggle to evolve. Those key principles left by United’s most successful manager should certainly be maintained, but the club must be willing to, in the future, look further afield for individuals to build on those principles.