Analysing the similarities between Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Sir Alex Ferguson's managerial style

#2 Man Management

Solskjaer has revitalized his players

The final days of Jose Mourinho’s reign were toxic, dull, gloomy coupled with tension and friction in the dressing room caused by a fallout with some of his players notably the enigmatic Frenchman Paul Pogba. When Solskjaer entered, he changed the mood at the club, bringing in a sense of positivity and instilling confidence back into the players.

This was a different approach from Jose’s approach of publicly rebuking, criticizing and ostracizing his players. Ole’s man management approach has brought the best out of Paul Pogba who has been firing on all cylinders albeit his two indifferent performances in the last two games against Wolves and Arsenal. The Norwegian has not only been able to get the best out of his star players but has also successfully managed to extract the best out of his fringe players whenever they are called into action.

One of the anecdotes from the class of 92 documentary, that Gary Neville shared was that Sir Alex comes to him on a Thursday morning and informs him that he isn’t going to play him on Saturday, and he needs him to be ready for a game on a Saturday two weeks from that fixture, adding that it is just the game for him.

So, Gary couldn’t decide whether he was told he was dropped for two weeks or the gaffer needed him specially for that game. Such was the brilliant man management of Sir Alex something that Solskjaer has picked up and is demonstrating in his managerial reign at United.