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Manchester United's rebuilding under Solskjaer has been quietly gathering pace and the pre-season results are certainly an indication of the same. United have been impressive so far in the preparation for the upcoming season and have displayed the movement and energy on the field that has certainly reignited optimism in fans.
United started their pre-season with a fine 2-0 win over Perth Glory at the Optus Stadium. The Red Devils topped that up with a 4-0 thumping of bitter rivals Leeds United next at the same venue. Recently, United started their International Champions Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Inter Milan, continuing their perfect start to pre-season.
In all of those three games, Solskjaer stuck with an extremely 4-2-3-1 formation and it has allowed United to be adventurous as well as flexible on the field. A front 4 in the attack has helped the Red Devils execute Solskjaer's high-pressing system.
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The double-pivot in the middle has allowed the team to boss the midfield, and it has also enabled United to dictate proceedings from deep, whilst changing shape when the opposition sits in a deep block. If United are to get back to their glory days, a lot will depend on how well their midfield functions.
Ahead of the 2019/20 season, Solskjaer's use of the midfield talents present at the club will define United's fortunes in the upcoming season.
While the boss will have the discretion to chop and change his midfield as the situation and opposition dictates, it is safe to assume that these three players, on current form and abilities, represent the ideal midfield combination for Manchester United for the upcoming season, given that Solskjaer wants an energetic and dynamic midfield who can press oppositions right from the word go.
Left Central Midfield - Scott McTominay
When Solskjaer moved on to the double pivot system in preseason, one player who looked out of place was Nemanja Matic. The Serbian's lack of speed and time taken to move the ball has made him look like a liability in Solskjaer's system. Indeed, some players have performed better than Matic in the three games so far, and the pick of the lot has been Scott McTominay.
The youngster has a surprisingly cool head on his shoulders and is a massive presence in the midfield. McTominay is strong and is rarely bullied off the ball. Solskjaer's system does not require an out-and-out defensive midfielder, because United are expected to defend as a team and press from the front. However, if required, the youngster can do the dirty work in midfield quite well and has given a regular indication of that last season.
McTominay's passing is also quite good, and while he is not known for the spectacular, he is quite comfortable on the ball, breaking lines with incisive short passes. But the reason he has worked so well in Solskjaer's system is because he has the urgency that the Norwegian demands and can move the ball very fast.
McTominay is also a tireless worker and is never short of running, which is a welcome change from the static Nemanja Matic. With a more charismatic partner alongside him, expect McTominay to do the bulk of the hard work and get even better next season.
Right Central Midfielder - Paul Pogba
At the start of the summer, the talk of the town had been Paul Pogba's imminent departure from Old Trafford. After he had publicly expressed his desire to leave, many expected the Frenchman to sulk in pre-season. However, Pogba has been one of United's best players so far, and every time he has been on the ball, it has looked like he could make things happen.
Solskjaer has tweaked the Frenchman's position in pre-season, using him in a slightly deeper role alongside either Matic or McTominay. And, it is in this role that Pogba has looked even more menacing since he sees more of the ball and has several options ahead of him to influence proceedings.
The French midfielder is blessed with diverse talents - he can hold on to the ball extremely well, has exceptional skills in tight spaces and also knows his way to the goal. But, it is his vision and passing range that makes him indispensable in this United side.
If the games in pre-season are an indication, Solskjaer intends to use a fast and fluid front three to pile the pressure on the opposition. Central to that plan is Pogba, who will be orchestrating the proceedings from a deeper position. The Frenchman will be key to unleashing the full-backs as well as threading those inch-perfect long balls to United's pacey attackers.
As he has shown in pre-season, Pogba's impeccable passing will be vital when United burst forward on the counter - his weighted through balls over the top and along the ground will be key to unlocking defences.
But, one can also expect him to venture forward quite often, where his tenacity and trickery will open up the opposition's defense. If Solskjaer wants the upcoming season to be a successful one, he'll need his talisman firing on all cylinder consistently.
Central Attacking Midfielder - Jesse Lingard
While the Englishman is not exactly the perfect candidate for a traditional central attacking midfield role, it is his flexibility and energy that makes him vital to the team. Jesse Lingard is full of running, his work ethic is commendable, and he is a decent finisher as well. However, what the Englishman brings to this team is a terrific mixture of speed and fluidity, which is the basis of Solskjaer's tactics.
Even though Lingard has started in the central attacking midfield role in pre-season, his main responsibility in the team is establishing a high press. The Englishman likes to pit himself against the opposition defense and is also quite good at winning the ball back higher up the pitch.
Another important part of his gameplay is switching places with the forward players, so he invariably pops up on the left, the right and even as a striker, making it extremely difficult for opposition defenders to mark United's forwards.
The Englishman looks certain to start as the central attacking midfielder this season, but he will most definitely switch places with the right forward, be it Juan Mata or Daniel James, during the game.
The Spaniard and the Welshman will drift inside, and Lingard will be dragging away his marker to create spaces for the diminutive duo to thread that final pass or attack an incisive through ball. Lingard could very well play a vital role for United next season and will be central to Solskjaer's plans of pressing from the front.
