‘I played under Solskjaer at Man Utd – I couldn’t believe what happened’ | Football | Sport

Manchester United defender Harry Maguire was left in disbelief at the club’s failure to progress under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer before the Norwegian’s departure in November 2021. Solskjaer is now being touted for a dramatic comeback to Old Trafford as caretaker boss following the club’s sacking of Ruben Amorim. The ex-United forward initially assumed control in December 2018, stepping in for Jose Mourinho on an interim basis.

His impressive work with the squad earned him the permanent position just three months later. Under Solskjaer’s stewardship, United secured consecutive top-three league placements in 2020 and 2021. He also steered the side to the 2021 Europa League final, where they were defeated on spot-kicks by Villarreal. Yet a dismal spell of results in the subsequent campaign resulted in his dismissal, with United languishing in seventh place in the Premier League table.

During an appearance on Rio Ferdinand’s YouTube channel in August, Maguire reflected candidly on his spell working with the Norwegian manager, expressing astonishment at the team’s decline during Solskjaer’s third campaign. The centre-back also confessed to experiencing “the best I’ve ever felt” whilst playing under the former striker.

Maguire said: “We just couldn’t believe what happened because we obviously finished third and second and then that season we brought in Jadon Sancho, Rafael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer and you’re thinking here we go now like let’s go and win the Premier League.

“And it just never happened. It just never clicked. and obviously we lost Ole (Solskjaer) which was disappointing if I’m being honest. I felt like Ole did an unbelievable job.”

He continued: “I’ll probably speak more about Ole when I’m when I’m retired but the way that he set us up in them first two years is probably the best I’ve felt in a team. Under Ole and Kieran (McKenna) and Carrick. Those three they had us so well organised.

“And like I said we didn’t have the I wouldn’t say the the best team, just a well coached , tactically brilliant, pragmatic, we could play, we could press, but yeah, the third season I was there, it just didn’t work.”

Maguire’s comments serve as a strong backing for Solskjaer’s potential temporary return. Sources suggest the club’s senior players would also be receptive to their former manager coming back, with The Guardian reporting that Bruno Fernandes is amenable to his comeback.

Solskjaer brought Fernandes to Old Trafford in January 2020, with the Portuguese midfielder considered by many as the finest acquisition of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson period.

Fernandes expressed his views on Solskjaer shortly before his departure, telling Sky Sports: “It was not as good as we want but it was good overall. No one was expecting us… Top four probably but not second place and the closest ones to fight with City.

“For me, he’s doing a really good job and it’s been a big improvement on the team since he arrived. We’re still dropping points at home and it’s not good enough and we know that but it’s not only the coach’s fault.”

Another United icon, Michael Carrick, who left Middlesbrough during the summer, is understood to have been sounded out regarding the position.