Will Solskjaer EVER win a trophy for Man Utd?
Carlo Garganese
- 22 Sep 2021 16:30 CDT
- 4 min read
Manchester United were dumped out of the EFL Cup on Wednesday evening as they lost 1-0 to West Ham at Old Trafford.
Manuel Lanzini swept home after nine minutes after a brilliant surge and cut-back from Ryan Fredericks to give West Ham an impressive third round victory.
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Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer fielded a mostly second-string XI with Dean Henderson behind a back four of Diogo Dalot, Eric Bailly, Victor Lindelof and Alex Telles. Donny van de Beek and Nemanja Matic protected a trio of Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata and Jadon Sancho behind striker Anthony Martial.
Going out of the League Cup is not the end of the world given this is a competition that’s reputation has plummeted in recent years.
However, as well as giving squad players a much-needed chance to gain minutes, experience and confidence, it also offered United the chance of silverware.
Solskjaer has been manager at the club for what will be three years in December and is still to win a trophy.
What is Solskjaer’s record in competitions at Man Utd?
In 2018-19, he finished sixth in the Premier League, reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and Champions League and was dumped out of the third round in the EFL Cup. It should be noted he only took over halfway through the campaign.
In 2019-20, Ole came third and was a semi-finalist in all three of the cup competitions.
Meanwhile, last season he missed a golden chance to finally win a title as Man Utd lost to heavy underdogs Villarreal in the final of the Europa League (having qualified for the competition after elimination in the group stage of the Champions League). He also made the semis of the EFL Cup, the quarters of the FA Cup and was second in the Premier League.
Going this length of time without a trophy at such a huge and financially powerful club is simply not acceptable.
While Ole’s reign will not be judged by how well he does in the League Cup, it is also true that winning breeds winning and there is no substitute for the experience of success in a final. A League Cup success can lay the foundation for a bigger trophy later.
Heads up, Reds.#MUFC | #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/inh2Yb3ax2
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 22, 2021
This is a reason why former Man Utd manager Jose Mourinho always played strong XIs in the minor cup competitions soon after joining new clubs. Mourinho, of course, won the EFL Cup and later the Europa League at United.
The debate over whether Solskjaer is tactically proficient enough to bring back the glory days at Old Trafford is certainly debatable.
But with United out of the EFL Cup and losing the first game of their Champions League campaign – and with Solskjaer’s record in that tournament as manager reading seven losses in 11 matches – then the Norwegian is already decreasing his chances of breaking his duck this time around.
The signing of a serial winner like Cristiano Ronaldo will certainly help but there is no doubt that Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool are all a step above United domestically. The same can be said for the trio in Europe along with PSG and Bayern Munich.
Ole’s best hope of a trophy this season might therefore be the FA Cup. The wait goes on.
