MX23RW : Friday, November 8 15:51:27| >> :60:679:679:

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's in-tray at Manchester United

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's in-tray at Manchester United
© Reuters
A look at the key issues which need tackling at Old Trafford.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been appointed as caretaker manager at Manchester United until the end of the season.

Here, Press Association Sport takes a look at some of the key issues for the former fans' favourite to address when he walks into his new office.

United front

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba (left) and Jose Mourinho during a training session. (PA)
The relationship between Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba and manager Jose Mourinho was strained (Martin Rickett/PA)

During the latter stages of the tenure of former boss Jose Mourinho, the United squad appeared to be becoming as divided as the fan base. Reports of dressing-room unrest and high-profile falling-outs with key men such as France midfielder Paul Pogba all did little to present a happy camp. While former striker Solskjaer will already have plenty of warmth from the Red Devils fans, ingratiating himself to the team, while also commanding their respect, will be key to progress.

Get Alexis back on song

When Alexis Sanchez joined United from Arsenal during January, the Chile forward was expected to go on to bigger and better things at Old Trafford. Sanchez, though, has looked a shadow of the tenacious attacker which helped carry the Gunners as Arsene Wenger's long stay was coming to an end. Getting the best of his undoubted talents in a red shirt for United should be high on Solskjaer's to-do list.

Attack, attack, attack

Manchester United's Paul Pogba. (PA)
Pogba had called for United to go back on the offensive (Martin Rickett/PA)

Mourinho's tactics were often perceived as negative – and not only on the terraces. For so long United were synonymous with free-flowing, attacking football, which they only showed in patches under all the men who followed Sir Alex Ferguson. The 'Baby-faced Assassin' will be expected to transfer his own forward-thinking through to the team, which you suspect would be music to the ears of one all-action French midfielder.

Fortress Old Trafford

The saying went that teams were already beaten before they stepped off the bus at Old Trafford . Yet, in recent seasons, it has been anything but the case. Tottenham ran out 3-0 winners during August, ending their own long wait for an away win over United, while Wolves' battling draw was swiftly followed by a Carabao Cup penalty shoot-out triumph from Sky Bet Championship club Derby. Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford to help Juventus win 1-0 in the Champions League, while Crystal Palace also left with a hard-earned point. So there is no better place for Solskjaer to start the rebuilding work than at home.

Hit the January sales

While Solskjaer is unlikely to be given a bumper kitty with which to strengthen the squad when the transfer window opens again in January, you would expect the club to signal their intent with at least one addition – and in any position as all could do with an extra bit of help. There could, of course, be some players considering their own future as United again look to change direction with a new permanent boss at the end of the season and whether to stick, twist or even bust.

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Press Association Sport staff');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', 'ae089e4e-6d10-44a2-8ba9-6cfd5abebbf4');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk,paservice:sport:world');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Ole Gunnar Solskjaer\u2019s in-tray at Manchester United'});

ID:344625: cacheID:344625:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:9711:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Douglas Costa in action for Juventus on March 11, 2018
Read Next:
Man United 'to move for Douglas Costa'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Bengals
34-35
Ravens
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!