beIN SPORTS pundit Andy Gray has identified three former Manchester United players who would be better suited to the Old Trafford post than Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The Norwegian was appointed until the end of the season earlier this week, replacing the sacked Jose Mourinho, but Gray feels there were superior choices available to the Red Devils.
“Are there better options out there, for me? Yes. Lots of them,” he told beIN SPORTS. “Laurent Blanc, for one. A man who has played for Manchester United, who knows the fabric of the club, who knows the DNA of the club. He’s coached at the highest level – highest level – with Paris Saint-Germain and would command immediate respect as a coach when he walks through the door.
“There’s two out of work now. We’re talking about Mark Hughes, who’s ex Manchester United, and Steve Bruce – both of them steeped in United tradition. They have far more experience in the Premier League than Ole does.”
Andy Gray names THREE former #MUFC players who would've been a better choice than Ole Gunnar Solskjær…#beINPL #CARMUN ? HD11 pic.twitter.com/6IICTGj4e4
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) December 22, 2018
OPINION
It’s hard to disagree with what Gray is saying, here. Neither Bruce nor Hughes would have been particularly popular appointments given how they both fared at their most recent clubs, but they would bring a United background and a far more accomplished coaching CV than Solskjaer. The Norwegian’s only managerial experience in England saw him flame out quickly at Cardiff City. Bruce and Hughes can at least point to successful periods with some of their clubs to suggest that they’d be better choices than the current incumbent. Then there’s Blanc, who would’ve been the outstanding appointment amongst former United players. He has managed at an extremely high level with PSG and France, and also had excellent success with Bordeaux in his maiden managerial role. Whether he would’ve agreed to step aside at the end of the season or not is unknown, but there’s no doubt that he is a far superior choice to Solskjaer on paper.