Manchester United’s recent slump under Erik ten Hag has meant comparisons with his predecessor have resurfaced.
For the majority of his first season in charge, the Dutchman has looked a clear cut above those who have recently sat in the Old Trafford dugout. But after their humbling Europa League exit, and with their top-four hopes dented, questions have been raised.
“We have all been a bit blindsided by the ‘improvement’ under Erik ten Hag this season. But they really are not that much better off than they were under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer,” Mirror Sport columnist Robbie Fowler claimed last month.
The argument is that despite the catastrophic end of Solskjaer’s reign, his final full season in charge didn’t look that different to this one. In fact, United will need to win all of their remaining Premier League games to eclipse the 74 points they recorded.
There is one huge caveat to any of these conversations, though. Ten Hag has ultimately succeeded in the one area that Solskjaer consistently failed in…winning trophies. The current Red Devils boss needed less than a season to end the growing trophy drought, lifting the EFL Cup after beating Newcastle at Wembley.
But for the man he replaced, it was so often a case of so near, yet so far. Solskjaer saw his side beaten in four of five cup semi-finals during his reign, and in the one final he did reach, there was more disappointment.
That came in Gdansk at the end of that 2020/21 campaign, just months before United owners were forced to sack him. It was a different feeling back in May, though, after finishing as runners-up in the Premier League, and rated as the favourites to win the Europa League.
Villarreal stood in their way, but all the signs pointed towards United lifting another European trophy. The team travelled in confident fashion, along with the most important of VIPs on their plane.
Sir Alex Ferguson, who excitedly thanked Solskjaer for ‘bringing his United back’ a couple of years previous, joined the players and staff as they made their way to Poland for the showpiece final. Solskjaer was often mocked for his constant harking back to the Glory Days under his mentor and so it was little surprise that he welcomed the legendary Scot aboard with open arms.
“He’s a special man. Just to have him around when we eat in the restaurant, I’m sure the players, if they're wondering about something, can ask him,” he explained at the time. “He’s always available for a chat because this is the club that's in his heart.
“I hope he enjoys it as well because I owe most of my career to him and this club so hopefully he will enjoy the night.”
However, Solskjaer did joke that he ran the risk of another Fergie hairdryer, with one current star joining him in the doghouse. “He’s like an encyclopaedia of football, even though I got him on a quiz question yesterday,” he added. “One of the players got the answer before him and I'm sure he's not happy with that!”
That feeling of unhappiness only increased after landing, as Ferguson watched his old club labour against Unai Emery’s expertly drilled Villarreal side. In the end, it was penalty heartbreak for United, and with it, Solskjaer’s final chance of winning silverware.
Two years on, Ferguson has built a similar relationship with Ten Hag, meeting for dinners and imparting some words of wisdom to the current incumbent of his old role. But unlike his time with Solskjaer, he was able to toast a trophy lift under Ten Hag having made the trip to Wembley earlier this year.
"United is based on success," Ferguson said amidst the celebrations. “He's got a grip of the club, which is really big for him. When you come to United, you try to get off to a good start right away and he's doing well."
For Ten Hag, ahead of a season-defining stretch of fixtures which also includes an FA Cup final, it may be worth another conflab with the United legend…as long as he doesn’t play quizmaster in the process.
