Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has disputed reports that Old Trafford is headed for a major overhaul this summer transfer window. According to numerous stories in multiple outlets, United will be looking to bring in as many as six new players, with of course several potential players headed out the exit door as well.
Solskjaer says the turnover won’t be that dramatic, and that roster change will be come much slowly, over time. Perhaps he is straight shooting on this one, or maybe he is saying what he needs to say publicly in order to help his cause in the transfer market. Either way, the Red Devils headed to the locker room down 2-0 this Easter Sunday at Goodison Park, in a game they really have to have.
If United drop this one, their chances of making the top four and qualifying for Champions League will be in serious peril, and that could negatively impact player recruiting.
“There will be new players coming in over summer but I don’t think you can expect six,” Solskjaer said ahead of what looks to be his sixth loss in the last eight matches.
“I don’t think any manager you ask would be in favor of that amount of change anyway. We want to rebuild but it is going to have to be gradual, over a few windows.”
“We plan to be in the top four, we plan to be in the Champions League next season and we want players who can keep us in the Champions League and move us up the table. But we know there is not going to be a quick fix. We have to take it step by step.”
2014: #mufc are 2-0 down at HT at Everton on Easter Sunday in a week they go out of the Champions League to ensure a trophyless season
2019: United are 2-0 down at HT at Everton on Easter Sunday in a week they go out of the Champions League to ensure a trophyless season.— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) April 21, 2019
For some bizarre reason, the club’s form has totally fallen off since the 46-year-old was named manager on a permanent basis. They had been flying high when he was only the caretaker boss, as United won 14/17 before the recent rough patch. Solskjaer has made it clear that some of his underperforming players are in need of a reality check.
“When I was given the job there was an understanding that we had to get Manchester United’s DNA back into the club and the team,” the Norwegian continued.
“That doesn’t mean I want to live in the past. It would be naive to tell players to do all the same things we did when I played. But I want to create a culture that we all believe in.
“When I played the manager trusted us and we took responsibility for our own careers. If anyone stepped out of bounds, they wouldn’t stay here long. That’s the way it has to be at a club like this.”
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.
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