Does Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Deserve More Respect? Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has earned the respect of more why exists as a question that is re asked after Manchester United manage to build a stable buoyancy that is currently at five games without defeat and seventh in the Premier League. With the club gradually rediscovering its optimism, more and more people are starting to wonder whether progress happening under Solskjaer was under-appraised then.

The idea of introducing this debate is not incidental. The only difference is just two points behind third-placed Chelsea now, and two tumultuous seasons later, one will recall that only four years ago Solskjaer was able to lead the club to second place by providing them with their best goal tally in the Premier League since Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down. Better still, following the 4 matches of the 2021-22 season, United had been leading in the table. So, is it time to reassess?

First, Solskjaer has been long the victim of the story that he was lucky to secure the employment. They usually cite his demotion with Cardiff or his humble managerial background prior to succeeding Jose Mourinho in December 2018. But those who were in his appointment say that there is more to the story. The brief of Solskjaer was to cheer up a disjointed club. As soon as he came back into Carrington, where he was able to greet the staff members with a smile and form an acquaintance once more with the employees he knew, he changed the mood at Carrington almost instantly. Employees and players recollect how he made them feel revitalized, and they said that he was an automatic optimist and guided people to smile again.

Nevertheless, he had much influence in other aspects other than positivity. Solskjaer restored the standards that he considered in line with the spirit of Manchester United dressing away trips, opening up spaces at the Carrington, and creating a more welcoming environment.

His obtained findings including the initial ones confirmed the approach. A record of 14 consecutive victories, two draws, and a single loss led to the revival of hope topped by the memorable victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. That alone can be considered as one of the best nights that United has played in Europe over the past ten years.

These were among the achievements that led to his permanent appointment. True to his successor, United had made finishes of third and second in his two complete seasons, the best two-year league performance since Ferguson. They got five semi finals and Europa league final losing only on penalties to Villarreal. But there was no silverware, which he could not get off, although deep down he felt that he was beaming solid foundations.

Nevertheless, the new signing of Cristiano Ronaldo in 2021 changed everything. Although fans and the top officials celebrated the signing, it shook the tactical regime Solskjaer and Kieran McKenna had expected to rely on pressing and mobility. Ronaldo was also productive but United did not have the balance that could have made them competitive. An outrageous sequence of performances, and the 5-0 loss to Liverpool and defeat at Watford, only confirmed his downfall. Nevertheless, people who are within the dressing room affirm that he did not lose the respect of the players.

And lastly, it is observed that since Solskjaer left United it has only lost two of the following 18 games with the same squad under Michael Carrick and Raf Rangnick. Would Solskjaer have been able to give a similar turnaround under more time? Nobody knows exactly but his reign might have been better than the critics acknowledge.

Once more, Manchester United is in need of identity and uniformity, and the question Ole Gunnar Solskjaer deserves more respect than ever. His generation was never perfect but much closer to being a success than it is sometimes depicted. At a larger distance and through the cloud of time his contribution perhaps should be rated more generously.

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