I wonder if this time last week, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer had any idea that come the round of Premier League fixtures, this weekend, he’d be in charge of Manchester United.
I guess the likes of me and you unless there is some sensational revelation, will never know whether the sacking of Jose Mourinho was already in the pipeline and whether Ole Gunnar Solksjaer had already been sounded out about taking on the role on a caretaker basis.
But, in a world that is full of strange coincidences, it does seem a tad strange that Ole’s first game in charge is against the only other club, in English football, he’s previously managed, Cardiff City.
What kind of reception Ole will get at the Cardiff City Stadium, after his ill-fated eight-month reign there remains to be seen?
But, ahead of the game, Ole has started his Manchester United managerial career off with the kind of words that will please the support who remain a little downtrodden after the dull football of the Mourinho era.
Ole has promised his players will go out and express themselves and produce the kind of free-flowing football our club is famed for.
But, will Ole’s first game in charge see Manchester United take the three points on offer.
The TV pundit, Mark Lawrenson, seems to think so, remarking in his regular feature on the BBC:
“Cardiff have won four of their past five home games but this is going to be a very tough game for them.
“Whenever a new manager comes into any club, all the players are instantly far more focused.
“I can guarantee you that in United’s training sessions this week, everything will have been really sharp and I would expect them to translate that into a convincing performance.
“Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was not a success when he was Cardiff manager in 2014, but this is a completely different situation for him.
“I think he will get results, but what happens next at United is going to be very interesting.”
On the back of those words, the former Liverpool and Republic of Ireland defender is predicting a 2-0 win for Manchester United.
Now that would do me fine, three points and a clean-sheet seems a decent start to me.
Previous article by Gary Boyoh
