How Manchester United players were surprised by Solskjaer

There have been emerging reports on how Manchester United squad players not away on international duty were surprised by boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with a break.

These include players like Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Donny van de Beek and Mason Greenwood who understandably were expecting to be put through their paces at Carrington, with the Red Devils suffering six defeats in their last 12 games in all competitions.

But National Daily learnt that Solskjaer who was pictured boarding a flight from Manchester to Norway on Monday is on a break and it has since emerged that players and staff have been given a break away from training also.

According to The Daily Mail, the decision came as a big ‘surprise’ given the intense pressure on Solskjaer and the ongoing crisis at the club, with the likes of Brendan Rogers, Erik ten Hag and Ralf Rangnick already linked as possible managerial replacements in recent days

The report however further claims that Solskjaer’s position as United boss is safe for the time being, with the 48-year-old set to be in the dugout as the Red Devils take a trip to Watford after the international break.

Solskjaer has repeatedly batted off questions regarding his future and it’s clear he expects to lead the side at Vicarage Road a week on Saturday.

Asked whether he was beginning to feel he was on borrowed time following United’s recent derby defeat, he told Sky Sports: ‘No, I don’t start to feel like that National Daily gathered.

‘I have good communication all the time with the club that’s very up-front and honest about the situation.’

Meanwhile, Solskjaer’s optimism may have now differed from that of some of his former teammates who have passionately supported him as United manager.

Notable amongst them is former England international Rio Ferdinand who has been loyal to Solskjaer despite his struggles at Old Trafford and has remained reluctant to criticise him.

But National Daily can confirm that the legendary former United defender now appears to have changed his stance regarding Solskjaer’s future this week, suggesting the time may have come for ‘the baton to be handed over’ to another manager.

Ferdinand on FIVE YouTube channel maintained: ‘We started this season with such hope, but also the transfer window we had, the excitement, we were all sitting there going, “You know what? This is our time now!”

‘I have to be honest, Ole was brought in to get us to that point. Under the previous management eras that we had, he was brought in to fix that and bring us to a place where you get the squad intact, you get the players to a point where we can challenge for the league.

‘I sit here now and I don’t think we can challenge to win this league. I look at our team every week and I’m wondering what we’re going to do tactically, I don’t see any philosophy or identity in the United way of playing, whatever that should be from the management and I sit here confused looking at the team.

‘When you look at it like that with the transfer window we had… we were all sitting here excited thinking, “Wow! This is where we’re meant to be!”

‘But Ole was brought in with the remit to get us back to a point, a moment where you think he’s brought some foundation back. At the end of the season we were thinking: “Yes, that’s it!”

‘I was always deep down a bit sceptical. Could he take us on to be champions? I wasn’t fully convinced, I hoped he would be able to do that. But what I’ve seen this season I just feel it might be the time now for the baton to be handed over to somebody else who can take us on now.

‘I think Ole can leave with his head held high because from where he came in to where he left us at the beginning of this season it’s positive.’

The 43-year-old further added: ‘I hate being in this position where I’m having to call out ex-team-mates or friends, people that I want to see do well.

‘But you have to be honest. You can’t sit here and say, “This player should never wear the shirt”, but then protect a manager. I don’t agree with that. You can’t have one rule for players and another for managers.

‘It’s not nice to see a man lose his job, but you’ve got to call it how you see it. It’s hat’s best for the football club not what’s best for the individual.

‘The football club will be living and breathing longer than any individual.’