Earlier this year, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer came out to the press and said “When you see the culture and what’s happening every day, I feel a lot of improvement in the everyday routine and everyday work we do,” Solskjaer said. “The boys have taken on board what we want and it’s for others to assess how much of an improvement.
“We’re 12 points ahead of what we were at the same time in the league last season. Of course, we’re all aiming to win trophies. “But, as we’ve said, sometimes a trophy can hide the other fact what’s happening at the club.”
“In the league position you see if you’re progressing really and sometimes in the cup tournaments you might be lucky or unlucky with draws, games decided on different factors. Of course, we’re aiming to win that’s why you play football you’re aiming to win trophies.”
'I think if you lower your own standards you end up 10, 15, 20 years from now ending up with no trophies. So it's back on the horse, for me.'
– Ole Gunnar Solskjær, 2016.
(Manchester United last won a trophy in 2017. Solskjær in 2013.)https://t.co/vbqK6qpp71 pic.twitter.com/m5iCdclS2k— Duncan Castles (@DuncanCastles) April 7, 2021
Manchester United are for sure getting positive results out on the pitch but without trophies to show for their performances, they won’t be considered as a successful team. Since United last won the Premier League in 2013, they have won the FA Cup under Louis van Gaal along with the League Cup and Europa League under Jose Mourinho.
It’s been around four years since Manchester United have actually managed to win a trophy but Ole seems to think that there is a bigger picture to see and he wins to directly go for the title.
He said, “I felt a big rebuild had to be made, In the league position you see if there’s any progress for me, that’s always the bread and butter of the season that you see how capable you are of coping of ups and downs any cup competition can give you a trophy but sometimes it’s more of an ego thing from other managers and clubs to finally win something.
“But we need to see progress and if we perform well enough the trophies will end up at the club again.
“It’s not like a trophy will say that we’re back, no. It’s the gradual progression of being in and around the top of the league and the consistency and the odd trophies sometimes a cup competition can hide the fact you’re still struggling a little bit.”
OGS says more difficult for @ManUtd to win trophies than it was when he was a player. “We came third when I played + that wasn’t normal. Now there’s at least 4 maybe 5 teams that can win the the league + cups. It’s more difficult now. We’ve got to be honest enough to say that.”
— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) June 26, 2020
This crop of players might be the best United team since the 2013 team that won the title under Sir Alex Ferguson but with accolades to show for their performances, this team might end up under-achieving. With both player morale and forms high this United team might actually be title contenders. Manchester United’s only current trophy chance lies in the Europa League where they play AS Roma on Thursday Night.
WHY ARE UNITED UNABLE TO WIN SILVERWARE?
Ex-United Boss Jose Mourino had a really good reputation of being a ‘Serial-Winner’ and maybe that is why he has a reputation of being one of the best coaches in the history of the sport. He approaches each and every game with a constant approach to win, and this thing lacks in Ole.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer might have completely turned Manchester United’s fortune but he lacks the desire to actually fight for trophies. United lost both the cup knock out games for allegedly playing a weaker side against strong opponents.
Solskjaer interesting on trophies (context LVG/Jose):
"League position you see if there’s progress, that’s the bread + butter. Any cup competition can give you a trophy but sometimes it’s more of an ego thing. If we perform well trophies will end up at the club again." #MUFC
— Laurie Whitwell (@lauriewhitwell) March 17, 2021
Unless Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his team do not start gunning for trophies, this crop of world-class players would go completely useless.
HOW COULD THINGS CHANGE?
The players are going to go out on the pitch and perform their best only if their attitude is unerring and their attitude can only be unerring if their coach instills that mentality in them. It depends on the atmosphere and attitude in the dressing room.
"As a coach we can motivate them to do it, but attitude will determine how they do it. Find the player with attitude and motivation no longer comes from the coach, this is the key in building success." – Marcelo Bielsa #MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/E2E2hG9P8P
— SportPesaSA (@SportPesaSA) March 25, 2019
On the pitch, United are as rampant as they come which was clearly seen in their comeback against Tottenham a few days back. The character these players showed was actually world-class, United have already salvaged 30 points from losing positions this season.
With United rumored to sign a new center-back, they might be able to fix their only problem and finally find some consistency at the back which would actually make them Manchester City and Liverpool’s biggest competition next season.
