Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed that Manchester United dismissed him in a meeting that lasted only about five minutes, after he was summoned by text message the morning following a heavy defeat.
Speaking on the Stick to Football Podcast, Solskjaer said he knew his fate was sealed at half-time during the match. He explained that his team talk at the interval challenged players to decide whether they wanted to play, and that a couple of the lads were in tears and had a go.
Text message signalled the end
Solskjaer said he still knew after the game, even though he had not heard anything. The next morning he received a text asking him to come to the office. He had just dropped his wife at the airport and texted her that he thought he would be coming back with her.
He described taking about five minutes with Ed Woodward, then chief executive, before staying to speak to some of the players and doing an interview because he needed to do it properly. He said he has always seen managers leave and then slag someone off two months later, but that is not him. He wanted to tell everyone he was proud and privileged and move on.
Carrick's departure and Pochettino's arrival
Michael Carrick was sacked in a meeting with current chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox on Thursday morning, just 15 games into the season. His fate had been an open secret since the start of the week, but he continued to lead training for players not away on international duty.
The drawn-out nature of Carrick's sacking has drawn criticism, with Gary Neville calling it "disgusting," while Carrick is reportedly 'hurt' by how it was handled.
Manchester United have confirmed Mauricio Pochettino as Carrick's successor. The former Tottenham and Chelsea boss has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract and will formally take charge on November 18, following his final game as United States manager.
A club statement said: "The club has reached an agreement with the U.S. Soccer Federation for Mauricio and his staff to be released after the conclusion of their responsibilities with the U.S. Men's National Team."
The statement added: "The Argentinian is renowned for his high-intensity, attacking style of football, his dedication to building strong, cohesive teams and his outstanding record of developing individual players."
