Many believe one big decision in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s final transfer window as Manchester United manager ultimately led to his sacking.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s time as Manchester United manager was an emotional rollercoaster.
United fans had a club legend they adored in the dugout, responsible for lifting the dressing room after many players fell out with ex-manager Jose Mourinho, but he was unable to deliver any silverware.
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The closest United came was in the 2021 Europa League final, when Solskjaer’s side lost to Villarreal on penalties.
However, results worsened in Solskjaer’s third season as manager, with United losing six in 11 games. A heavy defeat to Watford proved to be the final nail in the coffin, but questions were always asked about why it unravelled for Solskjaer at Old Trafford.
The Solskjaer myth was debunked by a club insider that he lost the dressing room, with the only thing he really lost being the backing of the board at the time.
It didn’t help that one signing meant that Solskjaer had to change his system to accommodate an ageing player.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after signing Cristiano Ronaldo
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival proved costly for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
There was great excitement when Cristiano Ronaldo returned to United following a shock transfer from Juventus.
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Ronaldo scored twice on his second debut against Newcastle, which gave everyone the impression that things were moving in the right direction.
It would sadly prove to be a false dawn because Ronaldo’s presence in the team meant things had to change. United had to accommodate those who went against their initial plans to be a pressing team with high intensity.
A dressing room source has told BBC Sport that Solskjaer couldn’t make it work with Ronaldo and that it went against a system they had been working on for two and a half years.
“The problem was the way Ole and Kieran set the team out, you couldn’t carry too many players who didn’t track back,” a source said.
“It needed legs, it needed press.
“The system had to change, which is fine to accommodate a big player, but Ole couldn’t make it work. Ronaldo was effective but his arrival took something quite major out of a system he had been working on for two and a half years.”
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Solskjaer and Ronaldo had no issues during their time together. There has always been great respect between the pair, and that did not change when they parted ways.
What did Cristiano Ronaldo say about Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking?
When Ronaldo gave his explosive interview to Piers Morgan in 2022, he revealed that he enjoyed his time working with Solskjaer, whom he rates as a coach.
It would be fair to say Ronaldo didn’t speak as highly about Ralf Rangnick or Erik ten Hag.
Speaking about Solskjaer, he said: “I love Solskjaer. I think he was a top person, because what I keep inside my heart, it’s the heart of the persons.
“And Ole for me, is a top person… It’s hard. It’s hard to assume [the role] after Sir Alex Ferguson, but I think he did a good job for sure.
“You need much more time. But I never doubt that you’re going to be a good coach in the future. But it was a good experience. I was, I was so pleased to work with him even for a short period.”