In the wake of Manchester United’s disastrous no-show at Everton on Easter Sunday, fingers are being pointed everywhere right now at Old Trafford. That includes the recently appointed full time manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who has seen his side suffer three straight away losses for the first time since 1995-96, and lose six of their last eight across all competitions.
United have now set a club record for goals conceded in a Premier League season (48), and there are still four matches left in this campaign. United are in a four team battle for the last two UEFA Champions League qualification slots, and their 4-0 blowout loss at Everton came at the absolutely worst possible time.
All three of the sides above United in the top four race dropped points this Easter weekend and a golden opportunity to come back into UCL qualification position was missed.
So is Solskjaer the man to lead United back there? What about moving forward long term? This question was posed to the Norwegian ahead of tomorrow’s Manchester derby.
“Well I would like to say yes [I am the right man] but it’s not down to me to say that,” the 46 responded at the prematch press conference.
“I’m confident in my team and myself. I’ll be ready to take this challenge on. I know it’s a big challenge and that’s why, when I came in here, I said I’m going to enjoy every single second. I don’t like losing but it’s a challenge all the managers at this club have had.
“When you go through bad results, you’ve got to be confident enough to say this is the way we’re going to do it and plan ahead.
“I like all these boys, I love them because they’re great lads. But I’ve got to make decisions and manage for the club.
“I’m managing the club and helping the players but I manage four the club. But we’re going to put all our efforts into making sure we do what we think is right for the club.”
Manchester Derby FYIs
Kickoff- Wednesday Apr 24, Old Trafford 8pm
Pep Guardiola press conference video, quotes: go to this link
Injury report for both sides: go to this link
Starting XI Predictions: Manchester City Manchester United
Form Guide: Manchester United LWLWL Manchester City WWWWW
Google Result Probability: Manchester City win 66%, Draw 20%, Manchester United win 14%
Prediction- Manchester City 3, Manchester United 1
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.