Soccer

Ole Gunnar Solskjær to remain as Man United boss for Spurs game

Norwegian has backing of Alex Ferguson but decision on future will lie with Joel Glazer

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer retains the backing of Alex Ferguson. Photograph: David Rogers/Getty

Jamie Jackson
Fabrizio Romano
Tue Oct 26 2021 - 14:41

Ole Gunnar Solskjær will take charge of Manchester United's game at Tottenham on Saturday after the club followed Alex Ferguson's advice and gave the manager a chance to turn fortunes around.

Ferguson, Ed Woodward and Richard Arnold threw their support behind Solskjær after United's 5-0 humiliation by Liverpool and the taking of one point from the past 12. Joel Glazer, the co-chairman who heads the American family's ownership, makes the final decisions and agreed the Norwegian should continue.

It is understood United’s focus is on getting behind Solskjær in the hope that results will turn. Assuming the outcome at Spurs allows Solskjær to continue, he will look to Tuesday’s Champions League group game at Atalanta and the Premier League match at home to Manchester City the following Saturday.

Ferguson made one of his infrequent visits to United’s training ground on Tuesday in an apparent show of support for Solskjær, who was also at Carrington after the players had Monday off. Solskjær was mentored by Ferguson as a young coach at United in the mid-noughties and played under him for more than 10 years.

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Woodward, who could stay as executive vice-chairman until April, and Arnold, the managing director and Woodward’s likely successor, also argued that Solskjær should continue, having backed him during previous turbulent moments since he took over in December 2018.

Glazer, who has five family members on the 12-person board of directors listed by United, will decide for how long the 48-year-old should remain. He runs United from his Florida base.

Antonio Conte is open to discussing any vacancy and the former Chelsea manager is waiting to see how events unfold. He is not usually keen to take a job mid-season but would make an exception for United, which he regards as a special club.

In July United gave Solskjær a contract extension to 2024 with an option for an extra year and his assistant Mike Phelan signed a new deal to 2024 this month. - Guardian

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