MANCHESTER UNITED players believe that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s ‘constant tinkering’ is contributing to the club’s struggles, according to reports.
Fresh scrutiny has been placed on the Red Devils manager, after his side crashed out of the Champions League at the hands of RB Leipzig on Tuesday night.
Solskjaer has used nine difference forward combinations this seasonCredit: PA:Press Association
And while members of his squad are ‘sympathetic’ towards Solskjaer’s position, The Telegraph report that they feel the chopping and changing has made it difficult to build partnerships on the pitch.
Solskjaer, 47, switched to a 3-4-1-2 formation for just the second time this season against the Germans.
And with such little time between matches in this congested season, preparation for each formation has been hindered.
Speaking on BT Sport, Red Devils legend Paul Scholes said: “How could a director of football buy a player for Manchester United?
“You don’t know if it’s going to be a [back] three, if it’s going to be two holding midfield players or one, you don’t know if they’re going to play a centre forward.
“You’re going into games with one day’s preparation at times. They went to three/five at the back [against Leipzig]. How can you possibly have time to work on it? There’s no time to work on it.
“I think Ole is trying to find an identity for the team. We’re coming here [against Leipzig] and none of us know how they’re going to play, what system they are going to do, how they’re going to do it – we’ve just no idea.”
In 16 Premier League and Champions League matches this season, Solskjaer has used 11 different midfield combinations – with nine having only been seen once. The Red Devils have fallen behind in a staggering ten of these matches.
Man United formations 2020-21
4-2-3-1: P11 W6 D1 L4
4-4-2 diamond: P3 W2 D0 L1
3-4-1-2: P2 W1 D0 L1
The Norwegian has also experimented with a further nine attacking partnerships.
‘Several players’ believe that their manager was ‘sold short’ during the summer transfer window, in which they signed Alex Telles, Donny van de Beek and Edinson Cavani.
But they also crave ‘more consistency’ of selection, with a source telling The Telegraph: “There has been too much chopping and changing, of personnel and systems.
“It’s not making it easy to build relationships on the pitch.”
United have mainly opted for a 4-2-3-1 system this season, with mixed results, having won six, drawn one and lost four of their 11 games with that particular tactic.
A 4-4-2 diamond has been used three times – yielding two wins and a loss.
While the 3-4-1-2 has been opted for just twice, with the 2-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain the other occasion prior to the Leipzig loss on Tuesday night.
United chiefs have maintained that they are behind Solskjaer, as he prepares to host Manchester City at the weekend.
But another defeat could send the scrutiny up another notch as the Red Devils aim to try and claw their way back into the top four.
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Man United crashed out of the Champions League on Tuesday nightCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer speaks about Paul Pogba transfer rumours after Man Utd’s Champions League exit at Leipzig
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
