Jenas Says United Were Wrong To Appoint Ole

By Max Wise

Former Tottenham Hotspurs midfielder Jermaine Jenas says Manchester United's appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as manager was wrong.

Solskjaer was handed the Old Trafford job on a permanent basis for a three-year period in March following a three-month impressive spell as caretaker boss.

When Solskjaer walked in to replace José Mourinho in December, Manchester United were 6th in the Premier League, 11 points adrift the top four, and although they remain 6th with five games to play, they are just two points behind Arsenal in fourth.

Solskjaer also led the Red Devils to eliminate favourites Paris Saint Germain from the Champions League, a task that many considered impossible when the draw was made in December.

However, after winning 10 of his first 11 games in charge, Solskjaer's Manchester United have now lost  five of their last seven games in all competitions including last Tuesday's 3-0 defeat away to Barcelona.

Jenas, who made 21 appearances for the England national team, believes Manchester United's appointment of Solskjaer was an emotional one and the club should shelve the idea of trying to recreate Sir Alex Ferguson's style at the club.

Asked on BBC Radio 5 Live if Solskjaer was the right appointment, Jenas said: "No. I felt it was an emotional decision and in any business it should be a thought-out logical decision for the long term.

"One of the things they need to get away from is 'the Manchester United way' and 'that's not the way they used to do it'.

"What Sir Alex Ferguson did was very unique and United have found it very difficult to replicate with some of the best managers in the world.

"Pep Guardiola going to Manchester City didn't say 'what did Mancini and Pellegrini do to win the league?' He came in and did what he wanted to do.

"Jurgen Klopp did that at Liverpool, he had his own style. That's what United need, I don't think they need to try and find someone who can get close to what Ferguson has done, they need to find [a new identity]. Mourinho tried to do that but the club didn't buy into it.

"I don't think they know what they're doing."