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Manchester United Should Not Sack Solskjaer, Yet

By Keith Lisenbee

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 07: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manager of Manchester United looks on during the Carabao Cup Semi Final match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford on January 07, 2020 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JANUARY 07: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manager of Manchester United looks on during the Carabao Cup Semi Final match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford on January 07, 2020 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images) /
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Here are five reasons why Solskjaer should stay…for now.

1. United’s situation is not that bad…on the pitch

Going into this weekend’s Premier League fixtures, Manchester United is in fifth place. They are five points from fourth and the last Champions League qualifying spot. United is in the knockout rounds of the Europa League and in the semi-final second leg of the Carabao Cup. They are still in the FA Cup competition with a replay match coming up against Wolves.

The club may not be performing to the heightened expectations of the fan base, but they are still in contention for Champions League football and are still in each of the cup competitions. As I indicated in my last column, United’s advanced analytics indicate that they are better than their previous results have indicated.

The advanced metrics also suggest that Leicester City and Chelsea are potentially on the verge of dropping out of the top 4. If United were in the bottom half of the table, then I could see them dropping the manager.

2. Sacking Ole would create more chaos

Since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, Manchester United has gone through managers like a rabid chihuahua in a bridal shop. The list of the fallen is daunting: David Moyes, Louis Van Gaal, and Jose Mourinho.

Each manager has brought their own period of transition, style, and chaos to the club. Though the appointment of Solskjaer was a welcome change, it was another period of transition for a team that had a long period of sustained stability in culture and leadership under Ferguson.

To change managers again, especially in the middle of a season, would continue the sow disorienting chaos on a club that is deeply fragile.

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