Ole Gunnar Solskjaer must win a trophy this campaign and contend for the Premier League title or he will lose his job as Manchester United head coach, believes Jamie Redknapp.
The arrivals of Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane appeared to represent a superb transfer window, but the addition of Cristiano Ronaldo has fans excited about the season that has already begun.
Redknapp agrees that it is an exciting time for the club, but that Solskjaer is now under huge pressure to make it work at the club.
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‘Ronaldo going back to Manchester United, it’s nostalgic, it’s amazing,’ Redknapp told Sky Sports News. ‘The beauty of it is that it’s going to be so good to see him back.
‘The other side of it is that he’s 36. How does Ole fit him in? Where does this now all fit for Manchester United because they’ve got five great strikers or players who can play in that front line.
‘Ronaldo it seems, at this age, can only play as a central striker. Marcus Rashford, [Edinson] Cavani, are they going to get in this team?
‘Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has got such a big job to keep everybody happy. That brings tremendous pressure because now, not having won anything at Manchester United, he has to win something.
‘Ole now, as excited as he is, this will bring a lot of sleepless nights trying to keep everybody happy in that football club.’
Redknapp believes there is no excuse for United not to be among the contenders to lift the Premier League title, and if they are not, Solskjaer will probably lose his job.
‘Manchester United have to be contending,’ continued the former England player. ‘Chelsea are obviously going to be contending, Man City…Man Utd were 12 points behind them, but if you’re signing those three players you’re hoping they make up that 12-point deficit.
‘Liverpool have also got a great chance, there are four runners and Manchester United are right in there, but if they don’t contend then I don’t see how Ole can be in a job next year because he hasn’t done enough with the players at his disposal.’
