Manchester United’s late equaliser against Tottenham stretched their unbeaten run and lifted spirits around Old Trafford. Sitting just outside the top six and close to the Champions League places, confidence is returning after two grim campaigns. The renewed optimism invites a look back at Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s spell, which ended only a few years ago but is still sharply debated.
When Solskjaer guided United to second place with 73 league goals, it was their highest total since the end of the Ferguson era. They briefly led the Premier League after four matches in the 2021–22 season, opening with three wins and a draw. These achievements contrast with the harsher narratives that have taken hold since his exit.
A common view paints him as fortunate to be appointed, pointing to his time at Molde and a relegation with Cardiff. The story often jumps straight to the heavy defeats that preceded his departure. Yet voices involved in both selecting and dismissing him recall a far more constructive contribution during nearly three years in charge.
Restoring morale and structure
After Mourinho’s exit, Solskjaer was asked to lift morale, and he did so almost immediately. Those present described his upbeat manner, warmth, and small acts of consideration for staff that helped revive a gloomy atmosphere. His return to familiar surroundings at Carrington brought a noticeable shift in tone.
The mood was helped by a remarkable streak of early wins, including a run of 14 victories in 17 matches. The dramatic comeback at Paris St-Germain, sealed by a stoppage-time penalty from Marcus Rashford, pushed United into a Champions League quarter-final – something the club has rarely achieved since the 2011 final.
This early success earned him a permanent contract. Inside the club, many felt his man-management and cultural influence were his greatest strengths. Training sessions were largely overseen by Kieran McKenna, while Solskjaer focused on connection, standards, and clarity in communication. His approach was compared to managers who trust specialist coaches while guiding the bigger picture.
Progress without silverware
In his first full campaigns, Solskjaer secured third and then second in the league – the best consecutive finishes since Ferguson left. United also reached five semi-finals in six attempts. Yet the absence of a trophy became a lingering burden, culminating in the Europa League final loss to Villarreal on penalties, with David de Gea’s miss deciding the contest.
Despite the lack of silverware, the club extended Solskjaer’s deal in 2021, believing the foundations were strong. Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo arrived soon after. Ronaldo’s second debut, featuring two goals in a win over Newcastle, sparked huge excitement and returned the team to the top of the table.
But the tactical balance shifted. United’s system relied on coordinated pressing and energetic forward play. Those close to the squad said Ronaldo’s inclusion required adjustments that disrupted what had been built over two and a half years. Though the dressing room welcomed him, the team struggled to adapt.
The collapse and the aftermath
A sequence of damaging defeats – including the heavy loss to Liverpool at Old Trafford – eroded confidence. The 4–1 defeat at Watford, with late goals conceded, proved decisive. Solskjaer sensed the end was near, and a brief conversation the next morning confirmed it. Some inside the club felt the decision came too quickly, arguing that he still had most of the squad’s backing.
The remarkable turnaround under Michael Carrick and Ralf Rangnick, who lost only two of the next 18 matches with the same players, raised further questions. Whether Solskjaer might have managed a comparable recovery remains impossible to know.
In retrospect, opinions are softening. Those who worked with him argue he steadied the club, improved results for long stretches, and created an environment players wanted to thrive in. His tenure, once dismissed by many, may merit more appreciation than it received at the time.
