Solskjaer farewell video shows Man Utd are not a serious club

Carlo Garganese

• 21 Nov 2021 22:20 GMT
• 4 min read

In many ways, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s farewell address just hours after being sacked as Manchester United manager warmed the heart.

When an employee is dismissed by their employer, it is very rare for both parties to part on good terms.

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It almost never happens in football. Often there are bitter disputes, such as when Antonio Conte departed Chelsea and it ended up in the courtroom. But usually there is a simple statement from the club thanking the coach for his efforts, with the manager staying silent as part of his payoff agreement.

Solskjaer, though, sat down with Manchester United’s official multimedia team for a sit-down interview.

The full transcript can be read below but Solskjaer describes getting the Man Utd job as a “dream”, a “ball”, “enjoyable” and says he is “very, very proud”. He adds that he “made some great friends”.

These are not the words of a serious manager. They are the words of a manager who could not believe he was there. A competition winner in the biggest job in football. We knew he felt like this already, of course.

But the fact that this type of interview was even sanctioned shows that Man Utd are not a serious club right now. They are not a club that cares about winning trophies and challenging for the Premier League and Champions League.

You would not see a Bayern Munich, Real Madrid or Chelsea release an interview like this when their manager is sacked, especially when the club is in crisis and in a disastrous run of form.

It has been well documented over the last few years just how incompetently the sporting side of Manchester United has been run since Sir Alex Ferguson left in 2013.

This nice, cosy friendly video from Solskjaer is just the latest example of how the winning mentality and culture that seeped through the walls of Old Trafford has all but gone.

It is a club of yes men and company men with no idea of what it takes to create a winning football environment.

What Solskjaer said after Man Utd sacking

"You know what this club means to me and what I wanted to achieve here.

"For the club, for the fans, for the players, for the staff. I wanted us to take the next step to challenge for the league, to win trophies and I only think it’s right that it comes from the horse’s mouth.

"I don’t want to answer all… there’s going to be journalists asking me about interviews but no, I’m not going to do any interviews. I want to get it out there, I’m going to leave by the front door, because I think everyone knows I’ve given everything for this club.

"This club means everything to me and together we’re a good match, but unfortunately I couldn’t get the results we needed and it’s time for me to step aside."

"I’m very, very proud. Of course, it’s one of those things you dream of in your life.

When you’ve been a player, when you’ve been a reserve team coach, the next job then, the only dream and the only thing you haven’t done is to manage the club, and I have now.

"It’s been a ball, it’s been absolutely enjoyable from the first to the last minute, so I have to thank all the players because since I came in, they’re top lads, top people.

"Some have come, some have gone, but all of them, they’ve been such an enjoyable bunch to work with.

"First of all, I want to thank the board and the owners for giving me the opportunity because it’s not for everyone and I’ve had the opportunity. I’m so honoured and privileged to have been trusted to take the club forward, and I really hope that I leave it in a better state than when I came.

"I’ve made great friends, I’ve reconnected with some great friends, new staff coming in I’ve become really good friends with. The other staff that was here when I was there, we’re good friends and we have connected and that’s what it’s about at a club like this. With the fans, the fans have been amazing. From day one at Cardiff until the last one now. [They’ve been] top, and we’ll see each other again."