Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Manchester United are set to speed up the process of appointing a new interim head coach, with more detailed discussions planned before a final decision is made between Michael Carrick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The two former United players have now met club bosses and made their offers for the job. Sky Sports News Carrick has been said to be particularly impressive in these meetings, but there is also awareness of Solskjaer’s popularity during his previous tenure as head coach.
Current short-term interim head coach Darren Fletcher said after the 2-1 loss to Brighton in the FA Cup, he has now reached the end of his agreed period in charge of the first team, and he will report to the Carrington Training Center on Monday to find out what the club want from him next.
Also on Monday, further discussions will take place regarding Carrick and Solskjaer, led by director of football Jason Wilcox. The club want the situation to be resolved as quickly as possible, to give the new man the rest of the week to prepare the team for Saturday’s Manchester derby at Old Trafford.
United now only have to focus on the Premier League, having been knocked out of both cup competitions, and so the new interim head coach will focus on qualifying for European football next season.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Darren Fletcher reacts to Manchester United’s FA Cup defeat to Brighton at Old Trafford
Neville: Solskjaer’s return would be like Groundhog Day
Sky Sports’ Gary Neville on a potential return for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer:
“They put Ryan [Giggs] in charge 10 years ago, then Ole became manager and you go back to the old boys, then you pick a new one, then you go for more experience.
The expected Premier League standings, according to Expected Points (xPts)
“It’s almost like a cycle, like a movie we’ve all seen before and Groundhog Day.
“What I think is that Ole is someone who loves the club, he knows the job, he’s done this job.”
A 40-game season: what’s left to play?
The final whistle against Brighton was met with a few boos, then stunned silence. Where does Manchester United go from here?
A statistic has been circulating around United’s FA Cup defeat to Brighton. 40 games is the length of United’s season. Their shortest season since the 1914-15 campaign, where there were no cup matches due to the First World War.
Defeat against Grimsby in the second round of the Carabao Cup and then a first ever defeat to Brighton in the FA Cup also made it the first time United had been eliminated from both domestic cup competitions at the first hurdle since the 1981-82 season.
It wasn’t the only déjà vu United experienced on Sunday night. Another was Danny Welbeck. The last time United played 45 games or fewer in the season was 11 years ago, when Welbeck scored the FA Cup winner in a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford for Arsenal. This sounds familiar.
And with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick the two main contenders for United’s interim job – having held those positions in the past – it’s one nod to the past too many. So what does the future hold for us?
Saturday January 17 11:00 a.m.
Kick-off at 12:30 p.m.
Man Utd’s next five matches
- January 17: Man City (H) – Premier League, kick-off at 12:30 p.m., live on Sky Sports
- January 25: Arsenal (A) – Premier League, kick-off at 4:30 p.m., live on Sky Sports
- February 1: Fulham (H) – Premier League, kick-off at 2 p.m., live on Sky Sports
- February 7: Tottenham (H) – Premier League, kick-off at 12:30 p.m.
- February 10: West Ham (A) – Premier League, kick-off at 8:15 p.m.
