Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is set to be sacked as manager of Manchester United, according to widespread reports after a humiliating 4-1 defeat at Watford on Saturday. Solskjaer admitted he was “embarrassed” After his team’s fifth loss in the last seven Premier League Sports The Times, The Guardian and Manchester Evening News reported that the result of an emergency board meeting called after the Watford defeat was to end the Norwegian’s three-year stint at Old Trafford.
Solskjaer signed a new three-year contract in July and will reportedly be given a compensation package of £7.5m.
The club’s hierarchy was stuck by Solskjaer during the recent international break despite a humiliating home defeat liverpool and Manchester City.
But coming to Vicarage Road was even worse as the struggling Hornets could risk missing a first-half penalty twice and still run out comfortable winners.
Solskjaer has managed to ride out the storm during the last poor run since taking charge in 2018.
But United’s latest slide comes after heavy pre-season investments Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho and Rafael Varane were expected to win the team the title for the first time since 2013.
Financial results released this week for the first quarter of the season showed United’s salary bill increased by 23 percent.
However, it has been of no use on the field as the Red Devils find themselves 12 points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea in seventh place and out of the League Cup.
More were expected after Solskjaer’s steady progress during his first two full seasons in charge.
He achieved back-to-back top-four finishes in the Premier League for the first time since the club’s decline began in 2013 with Alex Ferguson’s retirement as manager.
However, Solskjaer, who famously scored United’s winning goal in the 1999 Champions League final against Bayern Munich, has failed to win a trophy since his return to the club.
His legendary status as a United player meant the 48-year-old retained the support of fans, even though results have been poor in recent months.
But on Saturday also they started raising hands on him as he was provoked while raising his hand in apology.
“We were fought,” Solskjaer said. “The first half is the worst we’ve played and it’s hard for me to explain why we played the way we played.
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“The boys are in a terrible place in their heads now – we’ve let ourselves down and the fans. It’s hard to stand here and explain, but this is football and we have to be criticized for that.”
Former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane, Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers and Ajax coach Eric ten Haig are the frontrunners for Solskjaer’s successor.
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