‘Go and do your magic’
A number of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer pre-match platitudes have been revealed after Manchester United dismissed the Norwegian following Saturday’s 4-1 defeat to Watford.
Solskjaer was dismissed after United’s 4-1 hammering against the Hornets, with the defeat at Vicarage Road leaving the Red Devils with just one win in their last seven Premier League games.
United will now focus on bringing in a new manager. As pressure mounted on Solskjaer in recent weeks, the likes of Brendan Rodgers, Mauricio Pochettino and Ajax’s Erik Ten Hag were all named as potential successors.
Zinedine Zidane has also been named as a possible candidate for the role but is reportedly keen to wait for the right offer before making his return to management.
After the 48-year-old’s dismissal was confirmed, a host of his pre-game mottos were revealed.
According to MEN, a tactics board in Solskjaer’s office included a list of platitudes which were written across pitch diagrams, they read:
Game management
– simple and efficient
– do the simple things well and with pride
– go and do your magic
PLAY FOR THE TEAM
– worked a whole year
TAKE PRIDE in being the BEST YOU
The report adds that ‘Pride’, ‘magic’ and ‘BEST YOU’ were all underlined.
Evidently, the Norwegian’s mottos failed to motivate his squad, with performances in recent weeks – and arguably the past few months – underwhelming to say the least.
Yet, the players were still keen to try and take the blame away from the manager after the embarrassing defeat to the Hornets
It is also thought that Solskjaer rejected the opportunity to bring in more backroom support at United, insisting that his coaches and players were already “world-class”.
Despite concerns that the tactical approach at the club was not good enough, the manager was apparently more than happy with his first-team staff of Michael Carrick, Mike Phelan and Kieran McKenna.
Sources claim that the club hierarchy had become very aware of these concerns and “offered Solskjaer every level of support and told him he could have whatever he needed to put it right.”
United confirmed that first-team coach Michael Carrick would be taking charge of the club on a temporary basis, with this first test coming against Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Related links:
- Solskjaer rejected offers for more backroom support
- Cristiano Ronaldo ‘keen’ for Spain boss Luis Enrique to be named Man Utd manager
- Gary Neville pays tribute to Ole Gunnar Solskjær following departure
