Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville has stated he would not be against the potential interim return of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to the Old Trafford dugout, despite admitting the situation feels like 'Groundhog Day' for the struggling club.
A Familiar Cycle for United
Solskjaer is reportedly under consideration for a short-term role following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim this week. This is despite the Norwegian himself being sacked from the permanent manager's position in November 2021. According to reports, Solskjaer and his former assistant Michael Carrick are in a two-way contest for the interim position until the season's end.
Speaking on Sky Sports ahead of United's Premier League clash with Burnley, Neville was asked if he would support his old teammate getting the job again. 'I wouldn't not,' Neville replied. He then drew a parallel with Liverpool's past struggles, suggesting United are stuck in a repetitive cycle. 'We saw this at Liverpool for 25-30 years... and United have done this for 12 years now. They put Ryan [Giggs] in charge, then Ole, then you go back to the old boys... it's almost like a cycle, like a movie that we've all seen before and Groundhog Day.'
Pundits Divided on the Best Path Forward
Neville emphasised that Solskjaer, along with other linked candidates like Michael Carrick and Ruud van Nistelrooy, are 'fantastic people' who 'love the club intensely'. However, he issued a stark warning about the pressure any interim appointee will face. 'They're going to come under a lot of pressure over the next four or five months if results don't go their way. They have to be ready for that,' he cautioned.
Fellow pundit Jamie Redknapp, however, voiced strong opposition to the idea, instead advocating for Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola. 'I'm such a big fan of his. I've got no doubt he's one of the most elite managers in world football,' Redknapp stated. He expressed bafflement that United would consider Solskjaer over a manager like Iraola, questioning why the former United striker has not secured a Premier League job since leaving Besiktas.
The Crucial Long-Term Decision Awaits
United's immediate future is in the hands of Darren Fletcher, who took temporary charge for the Burnley match but is seen as an outsider for the interim role. Neville stressed that regardless of who steers the ship for the remainder of the campaign, the club's summer appointment must be decisive. 'They've got to bring in someone who's done it before,' he insisted, referencing the challenging spell under Ralf Rangnick.
He concluded with a clear directive for the club's hierarchy: 'Even if someone comes in right now and has the most brilliant four months, Manchester United still need to make that decision at the end of the season to appoint an experienced manager who's world class.' Neville also pointed out that with Champions League qualification still a mathematical possibility, the interim manager has significant stakes to play for.
