Solskjaer the right man to lead Manchester United, says Woodward

After losing eleven matches on the road, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer apologised to the travelling fans. Photo: Leila Coker/AP Photo

After losing eleven matches on the road, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer apologised to the travelling fans. Photo: Leila Coker/AP Photo

Published Oct 18, 2019

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LONDON – Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the

right man to lead the club, executive vice chairman Ed Woodward has

told the club's staff.

United have made their worst start to a season in 30 years, with nine

points from eight games leaving them 12th, 15 points behind leaders

Liverpool.

The 20-times top-flight champions meet Liverpool on Sunday and

Solskjaer's future has been in doubt.

But Woodward said the former United striker was doing the right

things required by the club.

"Ole's vision maps exactly to the core three football objectives we

have," Woodward told the annual meeting for more than 400 Old

Trafford employees.

Woodward said Solskjaer's effect on the young players at the club was

particularly important.

"We must win trophies, we must play attacking football, and we must

give youth its chance," he said.

"Last season we were the Premier League's leading club in terms of

the most match minutes given to our own Academy graduates."

"We should all be proud that the significant investments we have made

in our Academy - spanning recruitment, facilities and analytics - are

now bearing fruit."

United last won the Premier League in 2013 and the club's fans are

impatient for success.

But Woodward said Solsjkaer was working well, even if it was not

showing in the club's results yet.

"Ole has also instilled the discipline back into an environment where

we may have lacked it in recent years.

"He is building a squad that respects the club's history, in which

players work hard and respect their team-mates. No-one is bigger than

the club.

"The changes we saw over the summer have resulted in a very young

squad. But it's also a squad, with the players and the culture, that

provides a base camp for us to build and grow from as we start our

new journey."

dpa

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