Mourinho was right — Solskjaer confesses truth about coaching Manchester United

Mourinho was right — Solskjaer confesses truth about coaching Manchester United

Ayoola Kelechi 15:07 - 28.02.2025

The former Manchester United boss now believes his predecessor's words about coaching the Red Devils were spot on

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has admitted that Jose Mourinho’s claim about finishing second with Manchester United being one of his greatest achievements holds weight.

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The Norwegian reflected on his own tenure, acknowledging the challenges of managing the club and the struggles that made success difficult.

Solskjaer acknowledges the difficulties of managing Manchester United

During his time in charge, Solskjaer faced numerous obstacles, including inconsistent performances, dressing-room unrest, and intense scrutiny from fans and pundits.

Former Man United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer || Credit: Imago

He led United to second and third-place finishes, but his early struggles, such as a poor start to the 2019/20 season and group-stage Champions League elimination, highlighted the difficulties Mourinho previously referenced.

His team was booed by home fans after a loss to Burnley, and tensions at the club escalated with protests against the ownership. However, after signing Bruno Fernandes, United improved dramatically, finishing third that season.

Despite falling short of winning trophies, Solskjaer defended his tenure, saying, "I maintain that finishing second and third in my two full seasons [with Manchester United] wasn’t bad given the level in the Premier League.

"We also reached a European final, but I see what Jose [Mourinho] means when he says that his best achievement was getting his United side to second in the league.

Manchester United’s inconsistencies under Solskjaer echo Mourinho’s Struggles

Solskjaer’s second full season was similarly turbulent, with a poor start, a humiliating 6-1 loss to Tottenham, and Champions League elimination in the group stage.

Ex-Tottenham Hotspur s Manager Jose Mourinho (R) and Ex-Manchester United Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer both react during the Premier League match at Old Trafford, Manchester.

However, a strong midseason run briefly put United at the top of the Premier League, a position they had not held since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement.

Despite finishing second, their title challenge faded, and Solskjaer admitted the gap to Manchester City was too large to bridge.

Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. (Photo Credit: Imago)

Mourinho had previously suggested that his second-place finish was a remarkable achievement due to internal issues, and Solskjaer’s experiences echoed those sentiments.