Manchester United Set Deadline For Solskjaer’s Sacking Amid Rumors Of Surprise Successor [Details]

Manchester United have reportedly set a deadline for under-fire Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking. Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) head coach Mauricio Pochettino is being considered a top contender to replace Solskjaer at Old Trafford.

Solskjaer has been given as many as three matches to save his job at Manchester United, reported The Telegraph. Solskjaer was already under immense pressure, but the latest 5-0 thrashing against Liverpool FC at home has made matters worse for the Norwegian boss.

Manchester United have three crucial matches coming up, starting with a trip to London on Saturday (Oct. 30) to face off against Tottenham in the Premier League before their away Champions League group fixture against Atalanta in Italy in the middle of next week. The last of the set deadline of three games is the biggest challenge as the Red Devils host derby rivals Manchester City in the league on Nov. 6.

With 14 points from nine matches, Manchester United have dropped to seventh place in the 2021-22 Premier League table.

While the likes of Antonio Conte and Zinedine Zidane have been heavily linked as Solskjaer’s possible successor, PSG boss Pochettino is Manchester United’s No. 1 target, according to English publication Daily Star. It has come as a surprise considering Pochiettino is well settled in Paris and is managing some of the biggest players of the current generation such as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.

The report has stated the former Spurs head coach was the Red Devils’ original plan as they were looking at Solskjaer to be just a bridge between Jose Mourinho and Pochettino, who is admired by Sir Alex Ferguson.

However, Manchester United’s famous Champions League comeback victory over PSG in 2019 led to the club making Solskjaer their permanent boss and Pochettino eventually landed in Paris to take charge of PSG.

A crucial board meeting took place to decide Solskjaer’s future following the humiliating loss to Liverpool. As many as three people – sporting director Ed Woodward, club director Richard Arnold and board member Ferguson – backed Solskjaer to be given another chance.

It has also been reported Solskjaer has lost the faith of many star players in the dressing room, and one of the concerns that has been raised is the manager’s inability to solve the evident issues between Cristiano Ronaldo and Mason Greenwood.