For a while, Manchester United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy has been in charge between managers, like interim boss Darren Fletcher. – Ruud van Nistelrooy is said to have dropped out of the race earlier today and now Manchester United seem to focus on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will hold face-to-face talks with Manchester United on Saturday about the manager’s job for the rest of the season.
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The Daily Mail reports that Solskjaer is battling with Michael Carrick for the position after United sacked Rúben Amorim this week, although interim boss Darren Fletcher cannot be ruled out. Sky Sports and the BBC, on the other hand, believe that only details remain in a deal.
It is understood that both Solskjaer and Carrick had preliminary discussions with United’s management earlier in the week.
Carrick, 44, met CEO Omar Berrada and sporting director Jason Wilcox in person on Thursday, and Solskjaer will have his interview at Carrington on Saturday. It will be his first face-to-face meeting with the club’s management since Amorim was sacked.
Despite speculation that the 52-year-old United legend is the favourite, the club has considered Carrick seriously. Carrick was Solskjaer’s assistant when he was manager between 2018 and 2021, and took over as interim boss after Solskjaer was sacked.
The idea that they will work together again has now been rejected, but not confirmed by anyone.
It is understood that Fletcher has also made a good impression since he went from being the U18 coach to having temporary responsibility.
The 41-year-old Scot oversaw Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Burnley and will be on the bench for tomorrow’s (Sun) FA Cup match against Brighton at Old Trafford.
Fletcher insisted on Friday that there have been no talks about his long-term future at the club, when asked if he has spoken to minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
“I haven’t, no,” Fletcher replied. “I talk to Omar and Jason, the way the processes work.
“For me, I have focused on the task at hand, to prepare the team for these two games. There have been no thoughts or conversations about my future.
“Honestly, the people in charge, Jason and Omar, have given me full responsibility for taking control of these two games, making my own decisions, leading the team, guiding the team, preparing the team, and that’s what I’ve done.
“There have been no conversations with anyone outside of these two people in higher positions at the club.”
Two days after the draw at Turf Moor, Fletcher was still unhappy that VAR didn’t take a closer look at an apparent step by Kyle Walker on Patrik Dorgu, after they “ridiculously” nullified a goal by Lisandro Martínez for a foul on the former England defender.
Walker stepped on Dorgu’s leg while lying on the ground and partially covered the ball at Turf Moor, but referee Stuart Attwell took no action and VAR decided not to intervene.
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Darren Fletcher, who is the interim manager, has a slim chance of getting the temporary position.
Fletcher compared this to an incident in the first half when Martínez’s attempt was nullified after Walker went theatrically to the ground during his tackle in a corner.
When asked if the former Manchester City defender was lucky not to make more of the second incident, Fletcher replied: “Just like Kyle Walker did when Licha didn’t touch him? Yes. It’s kind of territory we’re getting into, but Patrik is such an honest guy, he’s never going to do it.
“It didn’t look good from Kyle Walker’s side, but I like Kyle and I know him as a person, so I hope the intention was to get the ball.
“I think VAR should have looked at it. They looked at the goal that was disallowed, which was ridiculous, so they should have looked at it.
“If they don’t, you’re just going to encourage players to make big drama out of things and be theatrical, which we don’t want in the game.”
