Why the next four league games will decide Solskjaer's future at Man Utd

Stefan Bienkowski

• 15 Oct 2021 14:49 BST
• 4 min read

The international break is over and with it the return of not only the Premier League but also the discussion over Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s future at Manchester United.

The Norwegian manager has overseen just five wins from the club’s first 10 games of the season and having spent a fortune in the summer transfer window, fans and the club itself are quite right to demand more.

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While former teammates have called on the club to give Solskjaer until the end of the season to build his team and prove his worth as a head coach, it’s far more likely that the manager will have little more than the next four Premier League games to show that he can still take this club back to the top of English football.

If Man Utd can make the most of these four upcoming league matches, then Solskjaer may be safe. But if they continue to meander with unconvincing form, the 48-year-old coach may soon be looking for other jobs.

Man Utd’s next four league games

First up, Man Utd travel to the King Power Stadium to take on a Leicester City side that will undoubtedly give a good measure of themselves.

Not only are Brendan Rodgers’ side arguably the fourth or fifth best team in England right now, but they’ve also had a shaky start to the season. This match will be one in which two teams will be desperate to prove they are the ones ready to turn their league campaign around. Man Utd can’t let the Foxes win that contest.

After that Solskjaer’s team have an almighty task in hosting a Liverpool team that have yet to lose a single Premier League game this season. For a fraction of the cost, Jurgen Klopp has built a Premier League and European Cup winning side and could be about to pour salt into the wounds of their under-performing rivals. This is another match that Man Utd must show their dominance in.

If the Red Devils can get through those two games unscaved then they’ll have to travel down to London to face Tottenham Hotspur. Although Nuno Espirito Santo’s side may not be quite as formidable as Leicester or Liverpool, they do still pose a threat and will be looking to thwart any hopes of Man Utd walking away with all three points.

Then, as if that run of games wasn’t difficult enough, Solskjaer’s side then face the ultimate test in a home clash with reigning champions Manchester City. Even if Man Utd can make the most of the three previous games, all will be forgotten if Pep Guardiola’s team can walk away from Old Trafford with a convincing win.

Either way, the next four league matches will tell us all - especially Man Utd fans - whether Solskjaer is capable of putting together a team that can challenge the very best in England and mount a serious title challenge in the Premier League. If not, it may be curtains for the Norwegian tactician.