Many will be struggling to see the kind of ruthless streak fans have witnessed under past United managers in Solskjær, but many reports from inside the United camp insists that the Norwegian is a completely different person when the cameras aren’t on him in the press room.
It’s very possible plenty of the ten (!) first-team players he has let go since taking charge in 2018 have received rollockings from United’s former no20.
Nemanja Matic is one who seemed to be out the door in January. Pogba and McTominay were preferred in midfield at the start of the season. The Frenchman’s injury meant that Fred took his place and Matic never really got a look in. Until McTominay also started to see the insides of the medical area at AoN Training Complex.
Matic’s social media activity was questionable, never out of line but you could see that there was not complete trust from Ole. At least not like when he took over 12 months prior where Matic was integral.
“You could see there was an issue between them,” a staff member told the Times.
The pair ‘cleared the air’ according to the publication and whether there’s a direct correlation with that and Matic’s upturn in form is a question for another day but as many times before, these things show that Solskjær’s man management is one of the best qualities he possesses and should not be overlooked.
Sir Alex Ferguson was a great tactician but most of all, he was a fantastic man-manager. It wouldn’t be too far to say that Solskjær has probably taken some off his methods to heart.
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