'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
When Manchester United fired Jose Mourinho in mid-December 2018, the club was in dire straits.
They were 11 points away from the coveted fourth position in the league and Champions League qualification was looking dim.
They had scored as well as conceded 29 goals after 17 games, and there were clouds of despair looming large over Old Trafford.
Amid a lot of speculations, the club appointed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the caretaker manager until the end of the season.
And it is fair to say the Norwegian has exceeded all expectations so far at United, winning all of his first seven games, which includes six in the Premier League and one in the FA Cup.
Trending
As a direct result, United have taken giants steps towards securing the Champions League spot.
They are still sixth though but are just three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea. As such the fourth spot is still achievable now.
All of this was possible because of his brilliant record since joining United and here are five reasons why Solskjaer has won all of his first seven games in charge at Manchester United.
Also see : Womens World Cup Bracket, Copa America Standings, Gold Cup Standings
#5 Team Selection
Under Mourinho, it was extremely rare that Manchester United fielded the same team on more than one occasions, in fact, his team selections were often eccentric.
With the appointment of Solskjaer, there has been a degree of continuity in the team and the credit must also go to his backroom staff. The only changes made were either enforced or due to the busy festive season.
Lindelof, Pogba, Matic, De Gea, Lingard, Herrera and Young appeared in six of those seven games; Martial and Luke Shaw started in five.
Phil Jones and Rashford played a part in each game, with six starts. It is this consistency in the team that has led to a great understanding among the players.
But it was not just the starts, but also the substitutions where Solskjaer got it right. Bringing on Herrera changed the game against Huddersfield, on the other hand, Lukaku scored two goals off the bench in as many games. Sanchez came off the bench to pick up an assist against Newcastle, on a night when United looked tired.
Solskjaer's team selection and his ability to affect the game by making smart substitutions was crucial in United securing seven straight wins in all games under his watch.
#4 Player Development
Mourinho's endless complains of the lack of quality in his squad had been the highlight of the season.
Under his stale tactics, the youngsters at United failed to develop, and good players began to lose their touch. This is where Solskjaer's appointment has been a breath of fresh air for the club.
The Norwegian allowed United's attacking talents to express themselves. Pogba and Rashford look like the two most dangerous players in the league, while Martial has also received a new lease of life.
The whole teams looks like an entirely different set of players because Solskjaer has been able to motivate them and get the best out of his star men.
The Norwegian trusts his players and this has helped every player to become even better in the one month that he has been in charge.
But it is also the positivity that Solskjaer has brought to the club that has helped his players a lot. When a manager wants to win every game and publicly says so, it gives his wards the motivation to work harder.
Solskjaer's ability to nurture his players and help them develop has aided in United's stellar run of form.
#3 Stable midfield
Solskjaer had opted for the trio of Matic, Pogba and Herrera in his midfield for five of his seven games. Against Huddersfield, he had started with Fred alongside Pogba and Matic, but the Brazilian was pretty poor and failed to impress.
Solskjaer noticed this, brought on Herrera early in the second half and the Spaniard ensure that United continued their great run. It was a learning experience for the Norwegian, who has not looked back since.
While the three of them have played together before, it is the set up that has worked well for each of them.
Paul Pogba has found stability in the presence of his midfield partners, which has helped him play his natural game. Matic has been tweaked to not just defend but also actively participate in the attack, a move that has unleashed the Serbian's impressive passing.
And Ander Herrera has been everywhere, taking the responsibility and helping both his midfield partners carry out their duties. The Spaniard has been a bite in the middle that has ensured that United rarely lost the midfield battle so far.
Manchester United has been home to some terrific midfielders in the past, who had stifled the life out of their opponents.
By ensuring that United had a stellar midfield, Solskjaer had enabled his team to dominate games.
#2 Free roles
Manchester United had one of the best midfielders of the world in their ranks and yet the Frenchman seldom sparkled for his club.
It was because Pogba got minimal support from his manager, who had burdened him with defensive responsibility and a rigid shape.
With Solskjaer's arrival, the Frenchman became the center of the team and has been enjoying a far more flexible work routine. Pogba has the freedom to assert his influence on the game and it has already worked splendidly for United.
But it has not just been Pogba who has had a role reversal. Rashford and Martial no longer track back every ball and are allowed to concentrate on what they do best - torment the defense.
As a result, Martial has been far more effective so far and has made that left side his own. However, the pick of the lot has been young Marcus Rashford.
The Englishman has now scored five goals and registered one assist in the last six games in the Premier League.
He has scored four goals in as many matches and has been a revelation so far. Rashford's finishing has massively improved, as has his confidence and all of this has been because he has been given a license to thrill by his manager.
Solskjaer's decision to free up his forward players has directly resulted in United winning all seven games under him.
#1 Style of play
The main reason why United have won all their games under Solskjaer has been their style of play.
The Norwegian has reinstated the Manchester United style of play and as such, there has been a swagger in United's ways that are reminiscent of the glory days of old.
There has been attacking intent in the gameplay, and the work rate down the wings has been terrific.
Solskjaer's team has resembled Sir Alex Ferguson's teams in their desire to go forward and that has been one of the main reasons for United's success.
Manchester United are blessed with a plethora of attacking talent, and Solskjaer has made great use of that so far.
For the youngsters who had come up the ranks in the United youth system, it was a way of life and for the millions of fans, it meant that Matchdays had become exciting again.
Another intriguing feature of Solskjaer has been his fearlessness. He had not budged from his desire to attack even in the away games, something that had become a norm under Mourinho. There had not been a back five, there was not even a crowded midfield.
For Manchester United, there has never been an alternative to attractive, attacking football and Solskjaer's adherence to the club's ways has been the prime reason why United has been in blistering form of late.
