Manchester United news LIVE: Mauricio Pochettino keen on job, Michael Carrick press conference

The Red Devils have appointed Michael Carrick to lead the team on an interim basis for the Champions League match against Villarreal on Tuesday

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer fired as Manchester United manager

Manchester United begin the post-Ole Gunnar Solskjaer era this week with interim boss Michael Carrick primed to take charge of the team for their Champions League match against Villarreal on Tuesday.

Following one of the worst displays of the Norwegian’s tenure, going down 4-1 at Watford, United have opted for a change, leaving a complicated legacy for Solskjaer due to his failure to deliver silverware.

It had been a long time coming, too, with The Independent learning that the 48-year-old was made aware that he was under renewed pressure ahead of the trip to Vicarage Road, with United chiefs increasingly concerned about the mood of the players, made worse by the damaging defeat to Manchester City in the derby at Old Trafford. Cristiano Ronaldo’s feelings appear to have ultimately been relevant in the decision too, with the Portuguese superstar growing increasingly agitated by the worrying decline, feelings replicated by his compatriot Bruno Fernandes.

In terms of a longer term interim appointment, rather than an immediate long-term successor, Laurent Blanc has emerged as a strong candidate, before the club make a permanent decision on a figure such as Ajax’s Erik ten Hag in the summer. Blanc was mooted as an option when Solskjaer first arrived to stand in for Jose Mourinho in December 2018, and he has a good relationship with the hierarchy and Sir Alex Ferguson having spent two years at United as a player. 

Follow all the latest updates and reaction:

Man Utd latest after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sacked

• Michael Carrick to take charge vs Villarreal; Laurent Blanc a candidate in interim role
• What legacy does Ole Gunnar Solskjaer leave as Manchester United manager?
• Rio Ferdinand criticises Ed Woodward and ‘shocking’ Manchester United hierarchy
• Pochettino ready to leave PSG for Man United before summer

[22 November 2021 16:45 · Karl Matchett]

Manchester United must learn from Liverpool’s mistakes to return to football’s summit

Today’s feature from Tony Evans looks at some of the similarities between Man United’s demise and that suffered by Liverpool in the 1990s and beyond.

There are lessons to be learned - if the Old Trafford club want to read into them.

Decision-making and an overhaul at the top end of the club are in order to return to the heights of yesteryear for the Red Devils.

[22 November 2021 16:30 · Karl Matchett]

De Gea’s criticisms should have stayed in the dressing room, says Bryan Robson

Bryan Robson thinks David de Gea’s post-match comments were misplaced when he said the team didn’t know what to do with the ball during the defeat to Watford.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking came just a day later and Robson thinks that type of criticism should have been kept in-house.

“It wasn’t good for Ole, it wasn’t good for the staff. It shouldn’t be said in the media, it should be said in the dressing room,” he said on BBC Radio.

“Interesting times ahead again, Carrick and Fletcher to take over and it’ll be interesting to see how they change it and what they do.

“It gives that bit of time to have a real plan and see who they are going to bring in next.”

[22 November 2021 16:15 · Karl Matchett]

Gary Neville, in his position as an analyst and pundit - not to mention a former title-winner with Man United - has had plenty to say on the latest developments at the club.

He is pretty scathing in his view of those at the top, with a lack of planning and a failure to map out a road back to the top high on his list of grievances.

“They don’t have a plan for the next manager at this moment in time,” he said. “The planning hasn’t been great, and you have to ask serious questions. I think the club is run on the business side OK, but culturally and from a football perspective it leaves a lot to be desired.”

[22 November 2021 16:00 · Karl Matchett]

Harry Maguire: Manchester United players take ‘huge responsibility’ for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sacking

Harry Maguire has admitted that Manchester United’s players must accept responsibility for their role in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking as manager.

The United captain is among those whose performances have come in for the most scrutiny during the miserable run of Premier League form that led to Solskjaer’s exit on Sunday.

Maguire was sent off in the 4-1 defeat at Watford on Saturday, and the centre-back has since said: “Of course the players need to take the responsibility for everything that happens on the football field.

“We’re the ones that cross over that white line. We were in it together as a group – the management and players.”

[22 November 2021 15:45 · Karl Matchett]

Manchester United: The potential candidates to take interim charge

Manchester United are looking for a new manager after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked following another chastening defeat on Saturday.

Michael Carrick has been placed in temporary charge, with United saying they will be looking for an interim boss until the end of the season.

Here PA Sport agency look at potential candidates for the role, with former United players featuring prominently.

[22 November 2021 15:35 · Karl Matchett]

Poll: Who will be the next permanent Manchester United manager?

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign as Manchester United manager is finally over.

The Norwegian’s three-year tenure was brought to an end on Sunday following the Premier League defeat at Watford on Saturday.

The 4-1 result and the manner of the performance proved to be the final straw after a deeply disappointing run of form with the club confirming he had been relieved of his duties on Sunday morning.

PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino is the current frontrunner to take on the job after being spoken to before while former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane is highly thought of by those at Old Trafford.

Brendan Rodgers’ work at Celtic and Leicester City has also caught the eye while Ajax’s Erik ten Hag is another option being considered.

Tell us who you think you will take over in our poll here:

[22 November 2021 15:25 · Karl Matchett]

Manchester United suffering from ‘cultural problem’ as Man City build ‘football empire’

Gary Neville has said Manchester United’s problems will not be solved by the firing of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with rivals Man City providing a blueprint on how a club can thrive.

Former United striker Solskjaer was sacked as head coach on Sunday, following his side’s 4-1 thrashing by struggling Watford on Saturday.

The Norwegian had overseen a poor recent run of results and failed to win any silverware in his three years in charge at Old Trafford, but United’s lack of success is not solely down to Solskjaer, Neville said of his former Red Devils teammate.

[22 November 2021 15:15 · Karl Matchett]

Statistical update of Man United’s place in Europe

So did Solskjaer take United places, improve them and make them a better club by the time he left than when he took over?

Here’s a statistical look, with the ECI being based on many metrics to predict upcoming success.

[22 November 2021 14:55 · Karl Matchett]

Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after Manchester United sack ‘outstanding human being’ Solskjaer

Cristiano Ronaldo has paid tribute to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following the Norwegian’s sacking as Manchester United coach.

Solskjaer was relieved of his duties on Sunday morning, with his side having fallen to a 4-1 defeat at struggling Watford on Saturday.

Ronaldo returned to United this summer to play under Solskjaer, who was a teammate of the Portuguese at Old Trafford between 2003 and 2007.

Now the 36-year-old has bid Solskjaer a warm farewell, writing on Twitter: “He’s been my striker when I first came to Old Trafford and he’s been my coach since I came back to Man United.

“But most of all, Ole is an outstanding human being. I wish him the best in whatever his life has reserved for him.”

[22 November 2021 14:32 · Karl Matchett]

Michael Carrick ready to manage Manchester United for ‘as long as it takes’

More from Michael Carrick ahead of his first match as, well, interim interim boss. Super-temporary manager. Before the Champions League match against Villarreal, anyway.