It seems all but certain at this point that Ole Gunner Solskjaer will be named permanent manager of Manchester United. He’s won 14 of his 17 games in charge on an interim basis to guide United into the top four of the Premier League and the quarterfinals of both the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League.
For what it’s worth, we believe Solskjaer should get the managerial job beyond this season. We doubted him before the PSG match, and don’t want to make the same mistake again. Solskjaer, Victor Lindelof, and company believed they could make UCL history and pull off the upset in Paris, and they did. The Norwegian really has something special going on with this team.
The former United striker said today that he is planning for next season, but is yet to be offered the job on a full-time basis. He also cleared up the confusion surrounding his contract situation with Molde that made big headlines earlier this week.
“I am here to do my job,” Solskjaer said. “I am not here to get excited. With the contract issue – you cannot have two contracts when you are a manager. That contract [with Molde] was terminated and I am contracted to United until the end of June.”
Solskjaer also admitted that he is already helping the club plan for the summer transfer window.
“We have looked into pre-season,” he continued.
“We have also looked into players and hopefully the players that the club will sign will stay for many, many years. I love managing these boys and I love working here. As I am saying so many times I am just doing the best I can every single day, then if and when a decision is to be made, then we will see.”
Solskjaer has also been included in the team’s ticket marketing promos for next season. In other words, reading all the tea leaves, you come up with the same answer right now.
Manchester United at Arsenal FC FYIs
Kickoff: Sunday, March 10, 5:30pm local, Emirates Stadium
Injury Report for Both Sides: go to this link
Starting XI Predictions: Arsenal Manchester United
Google Result Probability: Arsenal win 40%, Draw 27%, Manchester United win 33%
Odds via Odds Checker: Arsenal win 16/11, Draw 13/5, Manchester United win 21/10
Prediction: Manchester United 3, Arsenal 2
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.