It’s been well documented that Manchester United have not been the same since since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has inspired new hope that the golden age could be returning soon. Since the Norwegian took over on an interim basis, the club has won seven straight games across all competitions.
Two more victories and the Red Devils will pull level with the nine game winning streak achieved under Jose Mourinho during his so-called “plastic treble” (EFL Cup, Europa League, Community Shield) season of 2016-17. That nine game winning streak is the longest one that United have enjoyed since the title season of ’13, but Solskjaer has challenged his team surpass it.
“The gaffer (Sir Alex Ferguson) used to challenge us at times with ‘Why can’t you win 10 games on the bounce?'” Solskjaer said after a 2-1 win at home over Brighton on Saturday.
“As long as you take one game at a time and prepare well we should go into any game as winnable one, we have had some tough years at the club. It’s a challenge for us to get to where we as a club should be.”
The man who was known was the baby-faced assassin during his playing days admits his side still has plenty of room for improvement right now.
“We need to improve on quite a few things. Defensively, we need to find our shape better, towards the end like today, we need to defend better with the ball, OK, we’re under the cosh, winning 2-1, keep it away from them, let them run and try and get the ball.”
Up next is a trip to Arsenal for a FA Cup fourth round clash on Friday night. Achieving that eighth consecutive win would certainly send a message to the Gunners, a team United are currently chasing for fourth place. Winning there would then set up Solskjaer’s side with a chance to tie the nine game winning streak on Tuesday January 29 at home against Burnley, which is then followed by league fixtures against Leicester City and Fulham.
Then comes the two blockbusters at Old Trafford:
Paris Saint-Germain visits on February 12 for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League knockout round tie, table toppers Liverpool comes to the Theater of Dreams on the 24th.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.