The pressure increased on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after Manchester United’s dismal performance to fall 2-0 to Burnley on Wednesday. The result leaves United six points off a place inside the top four. And with Marcus Rashford out injured for the foreseeable future, reversing this downward trend will prove even more difficult.
“Today there wasn’t [any progress] in the end, because at the end you do feel disillusioned, as you say, because maybe they do,” Solskjaer said after Chris Wood and Jay Rodriguez’s goals handed them a third loss in four games. “But for us we’ve just got to stick to our values, stick to our beliefs and knowing that there’s no use feeling sorry for yourself. You’ve got to go out there with the same commitment tomorrow, the day after, get ready for Sunday.
“We know we’ve had X amount of games since the beginning of December and they are very stretched. Some of these have probably played more than they should have and expected, more mentally than physically. I think they need the mid-season break. We just need to get over that line, not get these three games out of the way but look forward to Sunday, FA Cup against who knows who still, and there’s a chance then to get some belief back.”
“We are working to improve and get players in and hopefully we can get something over the line. I think everyone can see that these players are being stretched. They are stretched and I have got absolutely no complaints on any of them because they give absolutely everything they’ve got.”
After the FA Cup this weekend, United face the daunting task of overturning a 3-1 deficit at the Etihad against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup, before facing Wolves and Chelsea in the Premier League. Should United make the change imminently, here are the candidates ranked in terms of most likely to succeed the Norwegian at Old Trafford.
Who would you pick to replace Solskjaer should United opt for a change of manager?
