Manchester United legend Andy Cole will know a thing or two about who would be the right person to appoint as the manager of the Red Devils having played for years under the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson through a period of the Red Devils’ greatest successes – including the historic treble won in 1999 in a season the club lost only four matches all season. According to the former England striker, he believes that a fellow member of that 1999 Treble-winning squad should be given a permanent contract at Old Trafford. Cole says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should be appointed as permanent Manchester United manager after restoring positivity to the club and rediscovering the “Paul Pogba of old”.
When handed the reins in the wake of Jose Mourinho’s dismissal in December, Solskjaer was charged with steadying the ship and rescuing a season in danger of collapse. He has delivered that and more, with 11 wins from 13 games lifting United back into the Premier League’s top four and restoring belief for the future. As somebody who knows all about the club, and one who has got the best out of key men who had struggled under previous regimes, Cole believes it should be a given that Solskjaer stays on.
The former United striker told beIN Sports of a man currently working on an interim agreement: “I think it’s more than changing the mood and the feel-good factor, what he’s done has galvanised not just the players but the whole football club. Man United are playing like Man United now, scoring goals, playing attractive football. Questions were asked last week when they lost to PSG but he’s put those questions to bed again with a comfortable result against Chelsea [in the FA Cup].”
Cole added: “I can’t see any reason why not to give him it. I’ve been asked this question quite a few times and I keep saying managers, like [Mauricio] Pochettino, have been touted for getting the Manchester United job, they’ve had to learn somewhere to get to the position where they get touted for the job. Ole’s done that. Fair enough he had a difficult time when he was at Cardiff, went back to Molde, but since he’s come to Manchester United the run they have been on has been unbelievable.”
The former striker went on to say the atmosphere at the club has helped Solskjaer’s case in the race to become United’s next full-time manager: “If you listen to all the players, the way they talk about him, they want to give him the job. Players are always happy when you are winning football matches and you’re comfortable, you’re playing well and you’re playing the way you want to play. Ole has given everyone the opportunity to do just that, especially with Paul Pogba. The way he’s playing, he’s playing like the Paul Pogba of old, what everyone was expecting from him. I think he’s got a great opportunity to get the job.”
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