CARDIFF (AFP) - Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first test as Manchester United's caretaker manager will come in familiar surroundings as the Norwegian returns to Cardiff City on Saturday (Dec 22), hoping to fare better than he did during an ill-fated nine-month spell with the Welsh side in 2014.
Solskjaer's appointment was described as designed to put a smile back on the face of everyone at the club after the confrontational end to Jose Mourinho's two-and-a-half years in charge.
The new man's first act on his return to the club's Carrington training ground was reportedly to gift a bar of Norwegian chocolate to the club's long-serving receptionist - a gesture of the human qualities United know they are getting.
"The smiling assassin sums him up," former United midfielder Darren Fletcher, who played with Solskjaer, told the BBC. "He's a lovely fella but Ole will let people know if he's not happy with them." The best way for him to lighten to mood quickly will be with results on the pitch.
A 3-1 defeat by Liverpool last weekend left United 19 points off the league leaders and 11 points adrift of the top four, but Solskjaer can look forward to a relatively forgiving fixture list over the festive period.
After visiting the Cardiff City Stadium, the Red Devils host Huddersfield and Bournemouth before travelling to Newcastle on January 2.
Solskjaer's presence rekindles memories of United's golden age, but also serves as a stark reminder of how far the club have fallen since the retirement of Alex Ferguson in 2013.
Â
Â
Â
Â
In 11 seasons under Ferguson as a predatory striker, Solskjaer scored 126 goals, including the one that famously won the Champions League final in 1999 as part of a treble of major trophies.
Yet, doubts remain over whether Solskjaer's appointment as caretaker boss until the end of the season is based too strongly on sentimentality than someone with the right mix of motivational and tactical prowess to get United not only competing again in the Premier League, but who can push Paris Saint-Germain in a challenging Champions League last-16 tie.
His time at Cardiff that resulted in just three wins in 18 Premier League games, relegation and being sacked early the next season after a poor start in the Championship does not offer much cause for optimism.
But two spells in charge of Molde in his homeland have been far more successful and Solskjaer also started his managerial career working as United's reserve coach, where he oversaw Paul Pogba among others.
The French World Cup winner's frosty relationship with Mourinho was a major factor in the Portuguese's failure to build on winning the League Cup and Europa League in his first season at Old Trafford.
Pogba has started United's last three Premier League games on the bench, but is expected to return to the starting XI after Solskjaer claimed earlier this year he would "build the team around him".
Solskjaer must also find the right defence to offer David de Gea more protection. The Spaniard has conceded more goals in the Premier League this season (29) in 17 games than the whole of the previous campaign as Mourinho persistently changed his backline to no effect.
In attacking areas, Mourinho's dismissal could also provide a fresh start for Juan Mata and Anthony Martial, while £50 million (S$86.7 million) summer recruit Fred, who did not even make the bench at Anfield last weekend, may now be given the chance to flourish.
Trailblazing France coach Corinne Diacre said women in football face a constant struggle for acceptance and are often regarded as "objects" Women in football face daily battle, says France
Women in football face daily battle, says France coach
en.rfi.fr/wire/20181218-women-football-face-daily-battle-says-france-coach
Women in football face daily battle, says France coach France coach Corinne Diacre is hoping to guide Les Bleues to the women's World Cup title next year on home soil AFP. Trailblazing France
'Women in football face daily battle' | The Express Tribune
Cesc Fabregas completes move from Chelsea to reunite with Thierry Henry at Monaco Description: Cesc Fabregas completes move to Monaco: The Spain international teams up with former Arsenal teammate Thierry Henry after signing a three-and-a-half-season deal with the Principality club.
Cesc Fabregas completes Monaco move from Chelsea
Start off well, Solskjaer tells United after winning run ends
Real Madrid have knocked Manchester United off the top of Deloitte's Football Money League, but the Premier League still flexed its financial muscle, with all of England's 'Big Six' featuring in
Money league: Real Madrid take top spot from Man United
Spurs must drop Lloris for top 4, says Jenas, Football News
Klopp hails departing Sturridge as 'modern-day Liverpool great' according to Reds boss Jurgen Klopp. Xhaka turns attention to Nations League after Europa League defeat.
Klopp hails 'outstanding' Reds, turns attention to Barca
fishinghd.com/2019/05/02/klopp-hails-outstanding-reds-turns-attention-to-barca.html
Home / Sports / Klopp hails 'outstanding' Reds, turns attention to Barca Klopp hails 'outstanding' Reds, turns attention to Barca. Arthur Torres | Thursday, May 02, 2019.
Klopp hails departing Sturridge as 'modern-day Liverpool
Lions hungry for post-raya victory. The Fandi brothers are back in town to play in this weekend's Merlion Cup. The Straits Times caught up with them on their experience playing overseas, what it's
Flipboard: Lions hungry for post-raya victory
Klopp mentality behind Liverpool's historic comeback: Mourinho Thrilling victory over the Spanish champions gave the Merseyside club a chance of winning a sixth European Cup By Reuters
Jose Mourinho praises Jurgen Klopp: 'His mentality behind
Defoe has joined Rangers on loan But has now snapped up the 36-year-old - who has been allowed to leave Bournemouth in search of first-team football. The deal includes two recall options in summer
Rangers 'agree loan deal' to sign Jermain Defoe from Bournemouth
Football: Tunisian club win African title after final
Football: Southampton power past struggling Huddersfield Town
Olivier Giroud speaks to BT Sport's Paul Dempsey after scoring a hat-trick in Chelsea's 5-0 Europa League win against Dynamo Kiev. Hat-trick hero Giroud revels in Europa League form | BT Sport
Giroud hat-trick helps Chelsea ease into Europa League
I MADE A HUGE PROFIT!! (RACING RIVALS PINKS) 🔹3000 sub goal🔹 Tdas Gaming. 🔹Make sure you guys SMASH THAT THUMBS UP BUTTON AND SUBSCRIBE!!! Racing Rivals Pink Slip Compilation
Madrid rivals profit from Barcelona slip-up - UEFA Champions
Advertisement MANCHESTER, Mar 9: Pep Guardiola is confident his achievements at Manchester City will not be tarnished by UEFA's investigation into alleged Financial Fair Play (FFP) breaches and trusted the club to resolve the matter, the Spanish manager said on Friday.
Premier League investigates Man City over FFP allegations
Wi-Fi Signal Strength: What Is a Good Signal And How Do You Measure It A quick overview of the required Wi-Fi signal strength for different online activities. Wireless signal strength is measured in dBm (decibel milliwatts) and is, somewhat confusingly, expressed only as negative values.
How to Read Cell Phone Signal Strength The Right Way
watch soccer live streaming juventus vs manchester united
soccer tv live football streaming portugal
watch soccer saturday live stream
watch soccer live streaming kenya vs ethiopia
watch champions league final online free live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming bein sport
where to watch champions league live streaming
how to watch champions league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming spain
watch premier league live streaming video
watch soccer live streaming qatar vs philippines
watch the premier league live stream
where to watch free live soccer streaming online
watch tamil nadu premier league live streaming
watch karnataka premier league live streaming
watch live soccer streaming free android
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming free online
watch champions league live stream uk
watch soccer game live now
watch premier league live streaming xbox
watch premier league live stream reddit
watch champions league live streaming now tv
watch champions league live streaming live
watch sky sports premier league online free streaming live
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo7
watch soccer aid live stream online
watch coppa america live streaming in india
watch coppa america live streaming xbox one
watch champions league live streaming espn
watch premier league live in stream
watch coppa america live streaming uk
watch premier league live streaming zimbabwe
soccer tv live football streaming garuda select
watch live streaming soccer online espn3
watch soccer online free streaming live canada
how to watch premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming total sportek
watch coppa america live streaming sctv
watch premier league live streaming yify
watch soccer games live stream free app
watch champions league simulcast live stream
watch sky sports premier league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming xfinity
watch champions league semi final draw live stream
watch champions league final live streaming online
watch coppa america live streaming ufc
watch coppa america live streaming reddit
watch english premier league live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live youtube
watch coppa america live streaming usa
free watch soccer live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
khan tv pw watch indian premier league 2018 live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming hd
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
watch champions league live streaming xbox
watch champions league final live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming juventus
watch premier league live streaming xfinity
soccer tv live net stream
watch soccer online free streaming live india
watch coppa america live streaming crictime
watch soccer online free streaming live hd
watch live stream soccer games online free
watch real madrid vs juventus live streaming of champions league
watch coppa america live streaming nz
watch soccer live stream apk
watch soccer live streaming mobile
free live football streams watch live streaming tv premier league
watch soccer games live stream free
watch soccer live streaming qatar
super soccer tv live streaming garuda select
watch english premier league live streaming online
watch coppa america live streaming vf
watch coppa america live streaming mobile
watch live soccer game today
watch soccer game live espn
watch live soccer stream android
watch coppa america live streaming direct
watch soccer live streaming jamaica
watch arsenal southampton premier league live stream
watch uefa champions league live streaming youtube
watch coppa america live streaming qatar
watch coppa america live streaming canada
watch soccer live streaming reddit
how to watch uefa champions league live streaming
watch soccer live streaming zee tv
watch coppa america live streaming rcti
watch soccer online free streaming live
watch champions league online free live streaming hd
watch coppa america live streaming dailymotion
watch premier league games live stream
watch champions league live streaming ptv sports
watch coppa america live streaming live free
watch soccer online free streaming live english
watch coppa america live streaming manchester united
watch champions league live stream gratis
watch premier league net live stream channel
watch coppa america live streaming youtube
watch coppa america live streaming quality
watch soccer live live football streaming cr7
watch live soccer online free streaming now
#footballschedule #goal #streamingbolaid #uefanationsleague #fcbarcelona #ucl #Barca #rockstar #battuteepiche #MSport #nationsleague #fut #manunited #Vip45 #freekick #livesports #cristianoronaldo #messi #bundesliga #Liamgallagher #vip #hotcoffee #arsenalfantv #rugby #comics #GarageCafeDxb #sixtimes #pagani #arsenal #coys #copaamerica #england #Bar #cappucino #linkstreaming #boxing #frasitrap #romania #liverpoolcity #lovefootball #zinedinezidane #valcea #coutinho #livestreaming #Barcelona #commentimemorabili #comico #championship #footballmemes #premierleague #leicestercity #conference #americanfootball #oudmehta #realmadridcf #realmadrid #Suarez #henderson #tokyo #manchestercity #hoffenhiem #championsleague #nutmeg #mancity #PartyTime #alissonbecker #neymar #freekickerz #JUVENTUS #nikesoccer #football #gym #Sunday #watchlive #panini #chocolatecoffee
0 Comments