Man Utd return to action this weekend and it’s the start of a demanding run before the next international break in November.
Two years ago the October international break was dominated by talk that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could be close to losing his job at Manchester United.
The Norwegian had been permanent boss for just seven months but a run of just three wins in 17 games across the end of 2018/19 and the start of the new season had cranked up the pressure.
Solskjaer survived the international break but a return to action against a Liverpool team who had won every Premier League game until then looked like it could have been fatal. Instead, United halted Jurgen Klopp’s side, getting the better of a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.
Between the October and November international breaks in 2019, United won five of seven games and the ship was steadied. Two years on Solskjaer isn’t quite under the same pressure as he was then, but he could be facing a period that is similarly defining for his tenure at Old Trafford.
Expectations have shifted considerably in the intervening two years, partly due to the work Solskjaer has done on improving a squad, both in terms of signings and getting more out of players already at his disposal. Now, trophies are going to be the barometer by which he is judged.
And while he retains the faith of United despite a fairly underwhelming start, with only half of the 10 games so far this season won, the margin for error is smaller given the sharper judgements now at play. If United wobble again in Europe or lose significant ground in the Premier League, the pressure could intensify surprisingly quickly.
Two years ago Solskjaer headed into the November international break with a crisis averted. Whether that is the case in 2021 depends on what happens in a six-game run that might just be the most important of the 161 fixtures he has taken charge of so far.
A run of games, beginning on Saturday, that incorporates Leicester (A), Atalanta (H), Liverpool (H), Tottenham (A), Atalanta (A) and Manchester City (H) could have United back on track when domestic action pauses again next month. Or it could throw this season off course earlier than anyone expected.
There will be people who consider such drastic talk premature given United are only two points off the top of the Premier League table, but it’s clear performances haven’t been good enough or consistent enough so far and it’s also worth pointing out who Solskjaer’s side have dropped points too. What should have been a routine first seven games has seen points squandered to Southampton at St Mary’s and, maybe most damagingly of all, Aston Villa and Everton at Old Trafford.
Meanwhile, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City have all played each other. Now, it’s United’s turn, and that two-point gap could increase given the run of four Premier League fixtures before the next international break includes games against Leicester, Liverpool, Tottenham and City.
There is certainly an argument that those games have suited United under Solskjaer. He’s rarely had difficulty in coming up with a one-off plan to get the better of major rivals. Take at least four points from Liverpool and City and beat Leicester and Tottenham and the title race will look like a four-horse stampede once again.
But on the level of performances produced so far there’s no guarantee those results will go United’s way. The simple truth is they’ve not been as good as Chelsea, City or Liverpool. Now they need to step up to the plate.
The Champions League double-header against Atalanta won’t be without its challenges either. The dramatic win over Villarreal has eased United’s nerves but the Serie A side are probably the second-best team in the group and under Gian Piero Gasperini they provide a unique tactical test. They can be spellbinding at times – Pep Guardiola described playing them as like taking a trip to the dentist – but they can also be exposed. It will be two fascinating ties.
Solskjaer’s European record needs some commanding victories to give it a little more credence. The Champions League hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for him so far and this group shouldn’t be posing too many questions. Four points out of six against Atalanta should have them on track for the round of 16.
The next three weeks are going to be immensely challenging for United and Solskjaer, however. Success will have them going into the international break in November imbued with the belief they can win major honours this season. But if those run of half-a-dozen games doesn’t go well then the narrative could be very different indeed.
