The atmosphere at Old Trafford is no longer the same again and is far much different from the way it was two months ago courtesy of a man that noone saw coming to the rescue of the ‘Red Devils’- Ole GUnnar Solskjaer.
Manchester United great Peter Schmeichel believes Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has proved himself to be a ‘top, top, top manager’ since becoming the Reds’ interim boss in December.
United have won 12 of their 15 games under Solskjaer in all competitions and the Norwegian is now the favourite to be appointed the club’s permanent manager at the end of the season.
Schmeichel believes Solskjaer would be deserving of the role – especially after seeing the way he adapted in difficult circumstances against Liverpool on Sunday.
“He must be top candidate now,” United’s former goalkeeper said.”I think with Ole it is kind of a free ride because he’s only there on a temporary basis, but he’s proven and the Liverpool game was key for me – that his way of thinking, he’s a top, top, top manager.
“I mean, we were trying to think about a game where three, actually four, players get injured in the first 25 minutes and you have to regroup.”I can’t remember anyone ever being faced with that challenge and I thought he came out of that smelling of roses.”
It came as a shock to Schmeichel when United announced Solskjaer as Jose Mourinho’s replacement six days before Christmas.
“I didn’t even see the announcement of Ole coming it was a really big surprise that they picked him,” Schmeichel said.
“I thought they’d go somewhere else. You know, some of the former players who have had bigger clubs who have been at the club but are from different, other parts of Europe.
“It was kind of a clever move because Ole’s worked with (Paul) Pogba, he’s worked with (Jesse) Lingard when they were in the reserves and they have huge respect for Ole. Everyone has huge respect for Ole.”His potential as a coach was very, very (clear) early on. It was very clear he would be a very good coach.”
Schmeichel will be back between the sticks for United when the treble winning players of 1999 reunite for a rematch with Bayern Munich in May this year.Sir Alex Ferguson will manage United in the match at the Nou Camp and Schmeichel is excited to see the Scot return to the touchline.
“That’s going to be a very special moment to have him back in the dugout,” Schmeichel added. “I always felt, you know, he wasn’t old enough to retire.
“I don’t know (if) it’s more nostalgia or it’s an emotional thing because he belongs there, but when you do the same job with that kind of pressure for so many years, he was in his right, so entitled, to do whatever he wanted to do.
“But I felt it was a really sad moment when he retired because it was such a big part of Manchester United’s history that left.
“I am very happy that he’s coming back and it’s interesting to see the reactions to the announcement. Everyone just sees this as a massive occasion and it’s going to be brilliant.”