Man Utd trio tipped to struggle under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Posted Wednesday, January 16, 2019 by squawka.com

Gary Neville has tipped Romelu Lukaku, Marouane Fellaini and Juan Mata to struggle at Manchester United under the management of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The trio were regulars during the reign of Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford but have been used somewhat sporadically since the appointment of Solskjaer as caretaker manager.

How are Mata, Lukaku and Fellaini doing under Solskjaer? Five key things to know…
1. Mata, Lukaku and Fellaini were regular features during Mourinho's reign at Old Trafford.
2. Lukaku scored 27 goals under Mourinho last season, while Mata and Fellaini were often called upon in creative and defensive capacities respectively.
3. However, all three have been somewhat marginalised since Solskjaer took over as caretaker manager with Fellaini only managing 31 minutes of football during that time.
4. Lukaku has had the most joy, scoring three goals so far but only starting one game.
5. Gary Neville believes the trio simply do not fit the "profile of player Man United need".

Mata has only played three of the six games under the Norwegian so far, while Fellaini has mustered just 31 minutes of football during that time.

And while Lukaku has looked much more clinical in front of goal, scoring three goals, the Belgian has only started once in the time since Solskjaer joined the club – Man United's FA Cup win over Reading.

"If you remember when Jose Mourinho was sacked the players were all over the place and he (Solskjaer) restored what would be a little bit of happiness in that first week," Neville told the Gary Neville Podcast after United beat Tottenham. "People said there were smiles around the place again.

"As the weeks have gone on you've seen more of his imprint on the team in terms of the attacking play and the runs forward. The profile of the team has changed. We talked about it during the commentary, gone are Marouane Fellaini, Juan Mata and Romelu Lukaku from the starting line-up.

"I said a few years ago on Monday Night Football when Mata was signed that he was a wonderful player, but I thought it was a breach of philosophy. I didn't think he fitted the profile of a Manchester United player.

"Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is picking the profile of player Manchester United need and that's players who have the energy to get from box to box quickly and counter-attack with quality. You've seen that in the last few weeks.

"At Wembley, it was the acid test. It was the moment where people said 'could he live in a big game and could he live against the big managers'. Second-half I thought it was about spirit, desire and hanging on a little bit. The players were playing for the manager."

Solskjaer passes Neville's test
Neville went on to reveal he had his doubts about Solskjaer's appointment when it was first announced, worrying it was made for sentimental reasons rather than footballing ones.
However, with the Red Devils triumphant against Spurs at Wembley, completing a six-game winning run under his tenure, the former right-back admitted he has changed his mind on Solskjaer, with the Norwegian showing he has more than enough about him so far.

"When the appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was made the Manchester United fans responded straight away, as they always would do to a club legend," Neville added.

"However, there is part of you in this position thinking, 'is it a bit of an emotional appointment that's papering over the cracks? Is it a plaster over a wound that's too deep?'

"It's now a month later and that performance against Tottenham is real. That's a proper performance Manchester United have put in and they've won it because of really clever tactical play in the first-half that damaged Spurs."

Man United host Brighton on Saturday in their next game.