Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed the crushing moment he realised his time at the club was up, drawing parallels with the recent dismissal of Ruben Amorim.
The Watford Watershed
Solskjaer's near three-year reign at Old Trafford came to a brutal end in November 2021 following a disastrous run of form. The final nail in the coffin was a humiliating 4-1 defeat away to Watford, a result that saw him relieved of his duties the very next day. The Norwegian has now disclosed that he sensed the axe was falling long before the official announcement.
Speaking candidly about that fateful day, Solskjaer recalled: "I more or less knew at half-time." With his side already 2-0 down at the interval against the struggling Hornets, his focus shifted. "So my team talk was about enjoying the last 45 minutes together and giving their all," he explained.
A Tenure of Highs and Profound Lows
Solskjaer's departure made him one of a growing list of managers to fail to fill the void left by Sir Alex Ferguson. He is, however, one of only two post-Ferguson bosses to guide United to a second-place Premier League finish, alongside Jose Mourinho.
His tenure began with promise, securing consecutive top-three finishes. The summer of 2021 brought marquee signings like Cristiano Ronaldo, Raphael Varane, and Jadon Sancho, raising expectations sky-high. Yet, the season swiftly unravelled. A 5-0 thrashing by Liverpool at Old Trafford was followed by a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City, setting the stage for the Watford capitulation.
"Some of them had stopped running, caring," Solskjaer noted of his players during that final game. Despite a brief rally that saw Donny van de Beek score, a red card and two late Watford goals sealed his fate. He remains adamant the scoreline was harsh, stating, "It was bad to lose against Watford but it wasn’t a 4-1 game."
Legacy of Near-Misses and Lasting Criticism
Throughout his time in charge, Solskjaer faced persistent questions over his tactical philosophy. His team was often criticised for a lack of clear identity, despite showing resilience to bounce back from poor results.
The Norwegian also endured painful near-misses in cup competitions. The most significant was a defeat to Villarreal in the 2021 Europa League final, missing a crucial chance to end the club's trophy drought. These shortcomings, combined with the dramatic league collapse, ultimately cost him his job.
He was replaced initially by interim coach Ralf Rangnick, before Erik ten Hag took permanent charge. Solskjaer later returned to management with Turkish side Besiktas but lasted less than a year. His reflections highlight the intense pressure and fleeting nature of management at the highest level, a reality now faced by Ruben Amorim.
