Simon Jordan believes Manchester United’s appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as permanent manager is an ‘unavoidable mistake’.
Solskjaer was named as Jose Mourinho’s permanent successor in an announcement on Thursday, having overseen an impressive reign since taking over on a caretaker basis in December.
Former Crystal Palace owner Jordan believes United’s results made Solskjaer’s appointment unavoidable, but doubts the Norwegian’s credentials to compete with the Premier League‘s leading managers.
“The reason I say it’s an unavoidable mistake is because their performances have justified the appointment, but Manchester United are in a difficult position,” Jordan told talkSPORT.
“It’s been six years since they last won the Premier League title and there are three sides who are better than them – Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham.
“I think they can bridge the gap player-wise, but here’s the conundrum – there are three better managers than Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
“Pep Guardiola is clearly the leading light in management right now, Jurgen Klopp isn’t far behind and has won things, and Mauricio Pochettino working the oracle at Spurs.
"Pep, Poch & Klopp are better managers than Solskjaer so how are #MUFC going to bridge the gap?"
"It's an unavoidable mistake."
"It's short-term thinking and possibly a long-term problem."@SJOpinion10 didn't hold back when asked about Ole Gunnar Solskjaer! ???? pic.twitter.com/LawZ6y6s7w
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) March 29, 2019
“United are behind them all on the field and they’re out of the habit of winning the Premier League. It’s a big thing when you don’t win the league, ask Liverpool fans – they’ve forgotten how to win it and they’re 29 years down the line now.
“If Liverpool were to win the Premier League this year and get their act together, you might find they really galvanise themselves and the distance between them and United gets even greater.
“While they’ve made the appointment because the performances have justified it, it’s one thing fixing something that’s broken but it’s another thing building your own team. The dynamics change.
“I might be giving Solskjaer a bit of a disservice, but I think it’s short term thinking and possibly a long-term problem.
“Are we really seriously saying Solskjaer is going to out-think Guardiola, out-do Klopp and stand up to Pochettino? I don’t think so.”
