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Dimitar Berbatov: Will United board bow to public opinion and replace Solskjaer?

Dimitar Berbatov
12 November 2021
5:00 min read

Dimitar Berbatov and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

The Man United board are backing Solskjaer... for now

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In his latest exclusive Dimitar Berbatov discusses recent events at Manchester United and gives his thoughts on Aleksandar Mitrovic, Antonio Conte and Harry Kane...

"You need to be a special human being to manage one of the biggest clubs in the world, but of course, everybody would like to give it a try because they're thinking, 'I can do it better'."

Rodgers just another name in the frame

Brendan Rodgers is doing a good job at Leicester. He has the experience of having managed big teams before, like Liverpool and Celtic. He has the resume. Sometimes I'm a bit tired talking about rumours - is it going to happen or not - and how many managers have we talked about who are going to replace Ole?

Some big, big names have been mentioned, but nothing has happened.

So, let's first see how the season will end. We all need to wait and see what happens between now and the end of the season, how the season progresses because a lot can happen between now and May.

Imagine United suffer two or three losses in a row, bad ones, then what happens? Probably something bad will happen to the manager. Do you remember what I told you when United beat Spurs? As soon as United suffer another defeat, we're going to speak about Ole's job again.

So let's see what happens during the season, how United are progressing, if they're not doing well, we're going to speak so much more about Ole's position, but at some point it gets boring and tiring.

It's obvious that the board of directors trust him. The question is are they going to give in to public opinion and the fans about 'it's time for Ole to be replaced' - are they going to give in or stand behind his back? We're going to watch this carefully while the season progresses.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer pre-season.jpg

We all were excited when Solskjaer was appointed. Are the board of directors going to give in to the public opinion of ex-football players, pundits, fans and are they going to try to replace him? It's going to be interesting. It shows you that opinion and support for Ole is shifting in the opposite direction. I'm sure he can understand it because when you lose games, it happens, the manager takes the blame.

So that's why I say, we need to watch the season carefully and if United continue that way, I'm sure at one point more and more opinions are going to come, voicing that Ole should be replaced and eventually that will happen.

Almost everyone would want to manage Utd

I read Rio Ferdinand's comments on Ole and based on the last couple of games Rio has a point - the City game, the Liverpool game - the Spurs game was okay, but Atalanta was a game that was also shaky until the last minute. So the next games are crucial for United.

I don't envy Ole being in that position - constantly reading you're going to be replaced. It never happened to anyone else before. The first day in the job, you're constantly being judged.

I can easily jump on and say, 'sack him', but I try to be more in the middle of things and be more rational and see where the truth lies.

The truth is if your team is not playing well, if you suffer defeats constantly and it's been a long time and nothing is happening with United being in the top three or four then obviously something is not working out. The first one to take it is the manager.

You ask any ex-footballers about if they would like to manage Manchester United, they'll say, 'probably, yes' - I make no exception. The funny thing is I was watching Ole's interview after the game and then out of curiosity I checked a picture of him on his first day at United, man, you can see the difference in the grey hairs, the face and everything.

You can see the stress and expectation is taking its toll. That's a very stressful position where you have to have the DNA to be in a position like this, where you live with that. Jurgen Klopp for example, Klopp is built for something like this, being in moments like this, Pep Guardiola as well.

You need to be a special human being to manage one of the biggest clubs in the world, but of course, everybody would like to give it a try because they're thinking, 'I can do it better'.

Mitrovic powering Fulham back to Premier League

Aleksandar Mitrovic is having an incredible season at Fulham. He's been there for a long time now. He loves scoring goals when he plays, but when Fulham go to the Premier League and perform badly, he doesn't score as much. Fulham go to the Championship where teams are weaker and then you have more chances to score goals like in his case.

That's not a bad thing. As long as you score goals you're happy.

The Championship is a hard league. There are a lot of games, so you need to stay healthy and fit to score goals. Mitro is doing that, helping the team to go up to the Premier League.

Ultimately, the goal for Fulham is to go back to the Premier League, but when they do it, please, this time, try to stay there! Do everything possible, learn from your previous mistakes otherwise it'll get embarrassing - like what's the point? Up and down, up and down.

When you're a striker and you score goals, it doesn't matter where, in his case in the Championship with Fulham, I don't care, you just score goals. He's going to be flying around the training pitch, at home with friends, his confidence sky high. Of course, if I was in his place, my confidence would be sky high.

It's a great achievement because even if it's the Championship, there are fewer stronger teams than the Premier League, the difference is big, it's still a very tough league. As long as he keeps doing what he's doing and helping Fulham win games and he's scoring goals, they're going to probably qualify again for the Premier League. But then the big question comes after that, 'what do we do in the Premier League?'

Aleksandar Mitrovic Fulham friendly.jpg

Fulham, at the moment and based on the last few years going up and down, they feel stronger and more secure in the Championship. This is the truth based on their performances. As soon as they go to the Premier League, nothing works out and they get relegated. So obviously some of the players are not up to the standards of the Premier League.

Some players can play better in the Championship than the Premier League. There are different types of players. Some players can be stars for their teams and then go to a different country and do nothing and they go back. Sometimes you just find your niche and place where you fit better and you just know that this is the place.

Sometimes you cannot afford to tell the truth to yourself in a way. Some players are just good to play in the Championship, some players in the Premier League, some players in just one country or one team.

It's different with everybody. But credit to the team that is still pushing to go back to the Premier League - and Fulham will probably do that if they keep it up. But when you go there, what do you do then?

Football can be cruel. Sometimes you get promoted to the Premier League and then you know the team is going to buy new players to strengthen the squad. You're angry and disappointed, but that's the reality of the game. But in the case of Fulham, the players just weren't good enough.

Conte will be planning for January

Let's first give Antonio Conte time to know his Spurs team, see where the weak points are, how he's going to play and what positions he thinks he needs to strengthen and then maybe in the January window if he decides he needs someone, one or two players - not many - he will go and buy.

For now, he knows he has a big task on his hands to make the team play the way he wants them to play.

Where do they need to strengthen? Based on performances and goals conceded and results, the defence should be strengthened. Maybe one player there and one for the middle of the park. In the attacking positions, we know the types of players he has - Harry Kane, Heung-min Son. So, he should pay attention to the defence.

I see that Gareth Bale has been linked with another return, he started slowly the last time he was at Spurs. Everybody was excited but he did start slowly. There was improvement as well in his performances. I must say I expected more, but overall it was satisfying seeing him back in a Spurs shirt.

Is he coming back? Honestly, I don't think he would like to go back. I think he would like to see his contract with Real Madrid finish and then decide what to do.

Harry Kane has the chance to build back his confidence

With England playing Albania and San Marino, these are good games for Harry Kane to score goals and catch up to Wayne Rooney's record that he's chasing, and he'd love to play the full 90 minutes in both games and score as many as he can.

He'll want to score goals, build that confidence and to say to himself, 'well, Harry, I'm still here'.

Just something is missing at club level, so if he has the chance to build that confidence by scoring goals and making assists, it's a good moment. When you play San Marino, England expect to score seven goals.

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