Solskjaer is turning water into wine
Twelve goals scored in three games and nine points secured from three victories. The joy has been brought back to Manchester United.
Sure, a run of Cardiff (away), Huddersfield (home) and Bournemouth (home) was always going to help new caretaker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but don’t try telling us that one of those games, maybe even two, wouldn’t have been dour affairs with Mourinho looking sullen squared on the sideline.
Early days, sure, but Solskjaer has already sparked attacking life, and freedom, into this United team. He looks around the squad and sees the talent that’s there. Go out and express yourselves – that is the message.
Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial have all looked dangerous and eager. Nemanja Matic is even pinging forward passes and through balls that actually find their man.
Solskjaer’s greatest challenge is imminent and he has a big selection call to make. The Norwegian has confirmed that Alexis Sanchez is nearing a first team return.
He told reporters: “Alexis has had some great training sessions the last few days, he wanted to be here today, but we have to manage him.
“He’s been out for a month. But he’ll be involved [against Newcastle], yes. He wants to play all the time, he’s one of those characters.
“He put himself available, but it was a few days too early for him. He’s not had enough fitness or whatever, but he’s champing at the bit.
“I think he’s a player that would benefit from the interchanging, the rotation, the movement. Of course, the more chances you create, the more times you get the ball into the final third, he’ll be an asset for us – on the floor, in between or in behind.”
Solskjaer whetted the appetite, too, by revealing Sanchez had scored ‘quite a few nice goals’ in a December 29 training session.
The 30-year-old has hardly set Old Trafford, nor any away ground, alight since his January 2018 move to United. Under Mourinho, Sanchez had just three goals and five assists in 26 games (21 starts). He started only five league games this season and registered 478 minutes of league football.
Of all the players brought in by Mourinho, the Chilean was the biggest pound-for-pound flop. All confidence appeared to have washed away and even completing 10 yard passes seemed beyond him. He has only started one league game since September 22 and has been out of action for the past six weeks.
Solskjaer has two tough calls to make. Which of his in-form attackers does he rest to give Sanchez an opportunity, and can the player himself show glimpses of the dynamo Arsenal had on their books for four years? Only time will tell.
