Manchester United: Will Solskjær survive this upcoming schedule?

Following the thrashing upset against Liverpool on Sunday, where the Red Devils lost 5-0, it raised many questions on whether Ole Gunnar Solskjær will remain as United’s head coach for the foreseeable future.

For his sake, his schedule is not getting any easier. Numerous reports have surfaced stating that the squad has lost their trust in the Norwegian manager.

Solskjær’s deciding fixtures

Manchester United has three games that may decide the future of Solskjær. The Red Devils will face Tottenham Hot Spurs on Saturday, Oct. 30. If Solskjær manages a point or a win, it may be a lifeline that the Norwegian needs to stay ahead of the team.

Following their game against Spurs, they will face Atalanta for their Champions League matchup. The last time these two sides met, United turned around a 2-0 lead from Atalanta. This time may not be the same, knowing the Italian side is not to look down on.

Once Atalanta is all said and done, it may be unclear, depending on the two previous results, if Solskjær makes it to the Manchester Derby. Pep Guardiola’s team may be the last nail in the coffin to decide the Norwegian’s future at the club. If Solskjær fails to pick up a single win with the club in these three upcoming matches, he may just be packing his bags.

Solskjær was appointed Manches United’s head coach in March of 2019 after being the caretaker of the club for 99 days before his appointment as the head coach.

He has been in charge of 145 matches in his current tenure accumulating 77 wins, 32 draws, and 36 losses. Manchester United has won only six out of 13 games since the 2021-2022 season took off. Five of those games came in August and in September.

Two out of 15 points equalling two draws and three losses are what the Red Devils have to show for. These matches where the team drops point are what fans arguably complain about his leadership roles and tactics.

Following the match against Liverpool, Solskjær gave his reactions to MUTV, SkyNews and press conference:

"I’ve come too far. We’ve come too far as a group. We’re too close to give up now. That’s going to be a difficult one [lifting everyone]. I understand human nature and the players are going to be low. I’ll just look into their eyes and the character of them.I know loads of characters are there. I know we’re rock bottom and can’t feel any worse than this so let’s see where we take it.The only way I know how to approach life is to wake up tomorrow morning and look forward, of course evaluate what has gone on, and do my very, very best to come through difficult times."

Solskjær’s time at Manchester United is running thin, and positive results need to come fast. He needs to get as many points as possible for his sake and the fans’ patience–hopefully, all nine disputed points.

He needs now, more than ever, for his star players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Édinson Cavani, and Marcus Rashford to perform in these matches. Paul Pogba would also be on this list, but he faced a hefty suspension due to his red card on Sunday, 15 minutes after coming in as a sub.

On the other hand, Pogba might have played his last match under Solskjær. He could potentially see some action against Atalanta. Pogba, according to the English Premier League website, will miss the upcoming matches against Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, and Watford.

Can Manchester United get the job done for their boss? It is unclear at the moment, but individual efforts from the team’s stars might give him the lifeline he needs.