Ole Gunnar Solskjær is poised for a decisive meeting with Manchester United's hierarchy this Saturday, as the club moves closer to appointing an interim manager to steer the team for the remainder of the season.
Weekend Showdown at Carrington
The former United striker is scheduled for face-to-face discussions at the club's Carrington training base with chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox. He is in a direct contest for the temporary position with another club legend, Michael Carrick, who is believed to have already been interviewed by the same executives on Thursday.
While Solskjær and Carrick are considered the frontrunners, the current caretaker manager, Darren Fletcher, remains a potential candidate. The Scot, who is United's Under-18s coach, took charge for the midweek 2-2 Premier League draw at Burnley and will also lead the team in Sunday's FA Cup tie against Brighton at Old Trafford.
Fletcher Makes His Case
Fletcher's interim spell began with a notable display of leadership at Turf Moor. Berrada and Wilcox were in attendance and were reportedly impressed by his half-time team talk, which came with United trailing 1-0. His instructions sparked a second-half turnaround, with two goals from Benjamin Sesko putting United 2-1 ahead before a late Jaidon Anthony equaliser for the hosts.
When questioned about his future on Friday, Fletcher stated his focus was solely on the immediate matches. "I've been focusing on the job at hand, preparing the team for these two games," he said. "There's been no thoughts or conversations about my future." He confirmed he had been given full responsibility by Berrada and Wilcox for the two-game stint.
History Could Repeat for Solskjær
Solskjær is no stranger to the interim role at Old Trafford. He previously took the reins from December 2018 to March 2019, performing so successfully that he was awarded the job permanently. During his full tenure, he guided United to finishes of third and second in the Premier League and to the 2021 Europa League final, which was lost to Villarreal on penalties.
Carrick was a key member of Solskjær's coaching staff during that period and briefly took control for three matches following the Norwegian's dismissal in November 2021, winning two and drawing one. If Solskjær is appointed this time, Carrick is understood to be open to resuming his role as assistant manager. Should Carrick himself get the nod, it is unclear whether he would offer a position to Solskjær.
The decision from United's new-look football leadership is imminent, with the club seeking stability for the final months of a turbulent campaign.
