Indications have shown that Manchester United will adopt a long-term approach to recruitment, focused on the summer transfer windows.
This is in support of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who is confident of the club’s backing of his plan ahead of the summer transfer window.
To amplify the support, the club’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has supported Solskjaer several times. The most recent was in November when the club released their first-quarter financial results, with a 20 percent fall in their revenue due to losses from ticket sales.
Solskjaer’s position was hanging in the balance after defeats to Arsenal and Istanbul Basaksehir last month. But things seem to have changed after a run of four consecutive wins, which lifted the Red Devils to the ninth spot in the Premier League standing. They need one more point to reach the Champions League round of 16. In their group, United, PSG, and Leipzig now share 9 points, with goals difference separating all of them.
Ed Woodward happy about Solksjaer’s progress with Manchester United
Reiterating his support for the Norwegian, Woodward in a recent Manchester United fans’ forum meeting, held virtually, stated that the club is happy with the progress made since the Norwegian first took charge of the team on an interim basis two years ago.
“What happens on the field is clearly our top priority, and while it’s not the same without fans in the stadium, we’ve seen lots of highs since our last meeting in April, with that 14-game unbeaten run to finish third in last season’s Premier League run and great wins against PSG and RB Leipzig on our return to the Champions League this season.
“Of course, we recognise there’s more hard work ahead to achieve the consistency needed to win trophies. But we see positive signs on the pitch and the training ground that reinforce our belief in the progress being made by Ole, his coaching team and the players.”
While noting that the club remained committed to strengthening the squad while being disciplined in its spending during the pandemic, Woodward noted that the additions we made during the summer is good.
“We will continue to support Ole with a planned, long-term approach to recruitment, focused on the summer windows.”
Has Solksjaer justified the amount Manchester United spent during summer transfer?
A look at the present team shows that Bruno Fernandes has been a leader in the team.
But looking at the recruitment done in the summer transfer, one can point to Alex Telles as an immediate solution to the left-back problem.
But Donny van de Beek seemed not to have settled yet in the team, leaving most of the creative work to Fernandes.
Although Solksjaer is thinking of the matches he would need to rest the Portiuguese in, but he is yet to figure that out.
There is a need to give Paul Pogba more playing time alongside the new Dutch signing. Playing more together is expected to bring about more cohesion in the team’s midfield, which could afford Fernades get some rest.
It is now left for Solksjaer to at least ensure that Beek and Pogba get to play together and have further options in the team.
