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The 2020-21 season was one of Manchester United's best seasons in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. They made substantial progress under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Manchester United secured a second-place finish in the 2020/21 Premier League table and are on the cusp of a European trophy - they will face Villarreal in the Europa League final on Wednesday, May 26.
The Norwegian has received widespread plaudits for his man-management skills, and it has reflected on the football pitch as well. The likes of Luke Shaw, Fred and Harry Maguire have improved under Solskjaer’s tutelage.
However, some have failed to hit the ground running under the Manchester United legend. On that note, let’s take a look at the four Manchester United players who have been treated unfairly by Solskjaer.
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#4 Sergio Romero
Former Manchester United number two Sergio Romero will be one of the few disgruntled employees under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The Argentina international was brought to Old Trafford on a free transfer in 2015 as a back-up to then-undisputed Manchester United #1, David de Gea. Romero acted as the perfect back-up for De Gea, notching up 39 clean sheets from 61 appearances, mainly in Cup competitions.
As the custodian of Manchester United’s goal, Romero conceded only 27 goals, averaging one goal conceded in every 2.25 appearances.
However, the arrival of Solskjaer has seen the Argentine fall down the pecking order. He now finds himself as Manchester United’s fourth-choice goalkeeper after De Gea, Dean Henderson and Lee Grant.
Since the Norwegian’s appointment in late 2018, Romero has made only 21 appearances, keeping 14 clean sheets.
Despite the impressive showing, the 34-year old has failed to register a single appearance in the 2020/21 football calendar.
#3 Jesse Lingard
Jesse Lingard is currently one of the hottest properties in English football. He played a massive role in helping the Hammers secure a European spot for next season.
The move to West London was just what Lingard needed as it brought back the flair and swagger that he was known for.
In his first 10 appearances for West Ham, Lingard racked up an impressive tally of nine goals and four assists, sparking hopes of a top-four finish.
From the outside, the England international seems to be a confidence player. And one can argue that Solskjaer failed to instill confidence in him, especially after the arrival of Bruno Fernandes.
While the arrival of Alex Telles spurred Luke Shaw to one of his best seasons in recent memory, the signing of Fernandes did not have the same impact on Jesse Lingard. The 28-year old found starting minutes hard to come by after Fernandes’ arrival, and fell further down the pecking order with the arrival of Van de Beek.
Time on the sidelines generally doesn’t help confidence players like Lingard, and Solskjaer could have done better to accommodate the Manchester United academy product.
#2 David de Gea
David de Gea has been one of Manchester United’s best players in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, winning the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year for three consecutive years.
The former Spain #1 has been a mainstay in Manchester United’s goal under a generation of managers including Sir Alex Ferguson, David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho.
In the post-SAF era, United displayed major defensive fragilities following the departures of Vidic and Ferdinand.
De Gea took over the mantle as Manchester United’s last man in defense, pulling off stunning saves time and again.
However, he has failed to guarantee a starting spot under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Part of the reason has been the promotion of Manchester United's academy product, Dean Henderson.
The absence of David de Gea due to paternity leave allowed Dean Henderson to exhibit his skills between the sticks. He notched up 13 clean sheets in 26 appearances.
Despite De Gea’s exceptional performances over the years, the 30-year old currently finds himself competing for a spot in Solskjaer’s starting lineup.
Inconsistent appearances have also cost De Gea his place in Spain’s XI.
#1 Donny van de Beek
The young Dutchman was one of the starring names in Ajax’s 2018/19 squad when the young team won the domestic double and staged a remarkable run to the CL semi-finals.
Van de Beek was one of the most sought-after names in world football when Manchester United signed him on a £35 million fee in 2020.
The 24-year old’s signing was preceded by the arrival of Bruno Fernandes, who scored 12 goals and provided 8 assists in his first six months. This made Van de Beek’s preferred No. 10 position unavailable, and he failed to get a consistent run in Manchester United’s XI.
Van de Beek has made 36 appearances for United this season, 21 of which were from the bench. 15 of the youngster’s 19 Premier League appearances have been as a substitute, and he has failed to get into the groove in his minimal playing time.
As evidenced by his four-year spell in Ajax’s senior team, Van de Beek is one of the brightest prospects in world football and can make a massive impact at Old Trafford if given the right opportunities.
