Solskjaer was haunted by Firmino and names ‘lowest point’ of Man Utd career

Man Utd train ahead of Bayern Munich clash

Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has insisted Liverpool hero Roberto Firmino was the player who haunted him the most during his time at Old Trafford and has labelled the Red Devils’ 5-0 thrashing by the Merseysiders two years ago as his “lowest point.” Solskjaer spent nearly three years in the United hotseat but was dismissed the day after his side had been thumped 4-1 in the Premier League by Watford in November 2021.

Solskjaer guided United to a third-place top-flight finish during his first full season in charge and backed that up by leading the north west giants to second spot the following campaign. But the wheels started to come off at the beginning of the 2021/22 season as the Red Devils’ form took a nosedive.

United were comprehensively dispatched by Liverpool at Old Trafford less than a month before Solskjaer’s departure, with Firmino causing havoc but failing to get his name on the scoresheet. And the defeat to the Merseysiders is etched in the Norwegian’s memory.

“Those [Manchester] City and Liverpool teams were the best that their clubs, with fantastic managers, have ever had,” Solskjaer told The Athletic. “I know that’s a bold statement because Liverpool were so good in the 80s, but they were a fantastic side under Jurgen Klopp.

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“In my last season, we played Liverpool at home. I felt the players were ready for it, just like I’d felt they were ready when we’d gone to City and won [2-0 in March 2021]. We could have sat back and countered but my decision was to go for it. We lost 5-0. It was 50/50, more or less, in possession and chances at half-time, yet we were 4-0 down.

“I made the wrong decision and that was my lowest point as United manager by a mile. Roberto Firmino was probably the opposition player who caused me the most problems as a manager.”

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Solskjaer’s tenure at Old Trafford was followed by a period of demise under interim manager Ralf Rangnick, with United ultimately going on to finish that Premier League season in sixth place with just 16 wins to their name.

Erik ten Hag was then appointed to oversee a new era in the north west and guided United back to the Champions League following a fourth-place finish in his maiden campaign. The Dutchman also led his side to the Carabao Cup title and the FA Cup final as the Red Devils appeared to be moving in the right direction. But United have started the current season in miserable fashion and face a battle to break into the top four after losing three of their first five league matches.

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