After parting ways with Ruben Amorim, Man United appointed former midfielder Darren Fletcher as coach of the U18 team on a temporary basis. Fletcher's first match ended in a 2-2 draw against Burnley, followed by a match against Brighton in the 3rd round of the FA Cup.
Fletcher is certainly not the person to be named in the interim position until the end of the season. The two most promising candidates are Ole Solskjaer and Michael Carrick, who were once legends of the team. They also held Man United in the role of interim, even as Solsa was head coach for a long time.
Man United's point of view is very clear, they will not appoint an official head coach at this time. The reason is that there are not too many good names on the market at this time and they are free, especially the suitability with Man United is not yet visible. Conversely, there are also many coaches who are afraid of the "grinding furnace" at Old Trafford. If they come to sign the team at this time, when everything is messy, that is not a good working condition.
Among the 2 candidates being considered, Solskjaer has an advantage in terms of achievements. Since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 with the championship, only Jose Mourinho (2017-2018) and Ole Solskjaer (2020-2021) are the two coaches who helped Man United finish the season in 2nd place or higher. For Ole personally, Man United in his hands has never slipped out of the Top 4 (the position to play in the Champions League), something Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim could not do.
In the information revealed, Solskjaer is also showing greater receptiveness than Carrick. The 52-year-old Norwegian coach said he does not care about preferential treatment, only needs to "rush into the fire" to help Man United. Currently, Ole also has a house in the Cheshire area, which is very convenient for reuniting with the Old Trafford team.
Regarding his personal achievements when he was still playing for Man United as a player, Ole Solskjaer is not too outstanding compared to Michael Carrick, but the impression in the hearts of fans is more pronounced. He is a rare coach, until he left his position, he was still loved by fans and not heavily criticized.
During the time Solskjaer took office to replace Jose Mourinho, Man United also experienced the best performance period. In 18 matches leading the "Red Devils" in the role of interim, Solsa has won 14, an achievement that no one has ever done, from Rangnick, Ten Hag to Amorim later.
However, reuniting with Solskjaer at this time is not without risks, especially the football world and Man United have changed a lot since the Norwegian coach left the club in 2021.
The appointment of Solskjaer, even as interim coach, is like returning to the tradition of bringing a club legend back to improve the atmosphere at Old Trafford. This may be effective for a part of the fans who always love Solskjaer, but it seems to go against INEOS's plan to modernize the sports structure.
Man United at this time also does not have enough forces to compete for titles like when Solskjaer took over the team from Mourinho. When he was still leading the "Red Devils" in his interim, Solskjaer had many resounding victories such as against PSG or Man City. His Man United is always in the Top 3 of the Premier League, even reaching the Europa League final.
The story of Solskjaer or Carrick will soon be decided, but right now, the "Red Devils" fans still have full faith and support for Fletcher, another person who also carries Manchester United DNA. Fletcher does not say big things, he only commits to making fans proud of the team's playing style, as long as he remains in the interim seat.
