Manchester United owners the Glazers will be watching Leicester Premier League clash with great interest.
If it were any one of either Jose Mourinho, Louis van Gaal or David Moyes getting the Manchester United squad ready for the Premier League clash with Leicester this evening, the possibility of a sack would be looming ominously large. Thankfully for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the picture’s a radiantly different one as he seems to be currently enjoying the full backing of the Glazers heading into the crunch Premier League fixture. Apparently the Norwegian will remain in charge regardless of the results of tonight’s clash with Leicester, with the board throwing their support behind him and not yield to the temptation to appoint Mauricio Pochettino in the event of a loss.
This speaks favorably for Solskjaer as in previous years failure for Manchester United to qualify for the Champions League has only resulted in an unceremonious packing of the bags for the manager(s).
Moyes tasted the bitter pill when he paid the price in his first and only season at Old Trafford, being brutally axed with four Premier League matches to go.
Louis van Gaal followed in similar fashion despite winning the FA Cup in 2016 but was also given the boot after United had finished fifth in the table.
Then came Mourinho who was relieved of his duties by United with the club off-course missing out on the Champions League.
Things are different this time however as the Red Devils face Leicester on the final day of the Premier League season knowing a point, or all three, will be enough to earn them a place in Europe’s top club competition.
So, regardless of whatever happens, Solskjaer is in no danger of losing his job.
As recently as January he seemed a dead man walking. A 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield was a chastening experience and one that showed just how far his side were behind the Reds at the top of the table.
But, since then, progress has been made. And considerable progress at that.
United fell five points behind Chelsea, who were in fourth, after the defeat on Merseyside. Few gave them a chance of clawing the difference back.
But Solskjaer has masterminded an incredible recovery, one that has repaid the faith of the Glazers and Ed Woodward’s faith in the process.