Pundit labels Solskjaer appointment ‘sentimental claptrap’

Joe Williams
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Manchester United

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s appointment is a “crazy, crazy decision” by Manchester United, according to former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley.

The Norwegian revitalised United when he replaced Jose Mourinho in December as caretaker boss before he was given the job on a full-time basis last week.

Since their stunning victory over PSG in the Champions League in early March, Solskjaer‘s side have only won one of their four matches, losing the other three.

Their 2-1 loss to Wolves on Tuesday night was a big blow for their hopes of finishing in the top four with rivals Tottenham and Chelsea both playing on Wednesday.

And Burley thinks the Old Trafford hierarchy have made a big mistake appointing the fan favourite as their permanent boss.

“The decision to give Solskjaer the job full-time, I think it’s a crazy, crazy decision, particularly now before the end of the season,” Burley told talkSPORT on Tuesday night.

“I’m not just saying this now after that game, because I’ve said it before.

“Manchester United are one of the biggest clubs in the world and, on the evidence of what we’ve seen recently, they need a massive rebuilding job to be fighting back with Liverpool and Man City.

“To give the job to someone who is so inexperienced, with a so-so managerial record before he arrived, that’s not got ‘long-term strategy’ written all over it to me, that’s got ‘sentimental claptrap to appease fans’ written all over it.

“Manchester United have got shareholders and should have a longer-term, more clinical view of what the strategy is, rather than, ‘Oh, Ole has done great…’

“He has done great. He’s picked them off the floor. They were so miserable and when he came in they were happy and they started playing better, but the air has started coming out of the balloon and that’s the concern.”