5 questions Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will have to answer in Man Utd job interview

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will hope to be Manchester United's saviour once more. The Norwegian is set to hold talks with Red Devils chiefs regarding yet another return to Old Trafford.

If all goes to plan, then he will replace Ruben Amorim on the United hotseat on an interim basis until the end of the season. It’s a role that Solskjaer has fulfilled before, having also been parachuted in back in 2018 after things went sour under Jose Mourinho .

He will certainly be hoping to repeat his previous work at Old Trafford this time around. But he's got a huge job ahead of him.

This is a United side that are fresh off the back of the club’s worst-ever Premier League season, while they have shown their vulnerabilities this term, too. So what could Solskjaer version two look like?

And what issues will he have to solve? Mirror Football predicts a few of the pressing questions he may have to answer before his return is rubberstamped.

The most pressing issue that Solskjaer will have to decide on is his tactical approach at Old Trafford. His preferred formation was a 4-2-3-1 during his first spell with the club and that appeared to earn instant results as United won 14 of his 19 games as interim boss.

That would represent a huge departure from the staunch 3-4-3 system that was regularly deployed by Amorim. While it would be a change, it could be argued that the players would be slightly more comfortable.

Amorim made the change to a four-back formation last month and earned dividends. Caretaker boss Darren Fletcher also deployed a 4-2-3-1 in the recent draw at Burnley. So Solskjaer might be tempted to stick with that set-up.

That will likely please his potential employers as well. A huge area of friction between Amorim and Football Director Jason Wilcox was his tactical stubbornness.

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Plenty was expected of Benjamin Sesko following his £74m move from RB Leipzig but the Slovenian has so far failed to hit the heights expected of him. He has just four goals to his name - albeit two of those came in his most recent outing.

If anyone understands the pressure and the expectation of leading the line for United, it’s Solskjaer. Some advice and an arm around the shoulder from the Norwegian might be all that Sesko needs to unlock his true form.

Failing that, some detailed training drills at Carrington will surely give Sesko some much needed guidance on how to put the ball in the net.

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Last time Solskjaer was put in charge at United, it was once again on an interim basis with the intention to appoint a more high-profile name come the end of the campaign. But Solskjaer impressed so much that he was appointed on a full-term basis.

Should the same situation arise this time around then it would be interesting to see both his and the club’s verdict on another extended stay. Should Solskjaer want a more permanent gig, then that could potentially force them to look elsewhere, particularly given how things ended between the two parties last time.

A second permanent stint for Solskjaer might not satisfy fans either. But if he is happy taking the reins for the time being to then move aside when the time is right, it could be a profitable partnership for all.

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Given that Solskjaer will arrive at Old Trafford on a temporary basis, it seems unlikely that United chiefs will be comfortable throwing huge funds around in the transfer market.

Amorim found that a source of huge frustration, believing he was not being given the tools to complete the job to the level he wanted.

Solskjaer will also have to make do with the current crop of players at the club. And while that is not an issue in an attacking sense - the Red Devils having already invested heavily in their attack in the summer - there are still glaring gaps in both midfield and defence.

That could well hamstring United for the rest of the season so it depends whether Solskjaer would be willing to work without any real backing.

Upon leaving back in November 2021, Solskjaer revealed his main complaint was the behaviour of some players. As quoted by The Athletic, Solskjaer said: "Some weren't as good as their own perception of themselves.”

He added: "I won't name names, but I was very disappointed when a couple turned down the chance to be captain. I was also disappointed when others said they wouldn't play or train because they wanted to force their way out."

Of course, there has been quite the overhaul within the dressing room but United remain questioned on the culture at the club. Some players have been linked with exits, while others seem dissatisfied with life at the club. That may be something that Solskjaer will want to rectify.

Whether that means moving some players out or getting them back onside with a quiet word remains to be seen, but that is arguably one of his biggest tasks as he prepares to return to Old Trafford.

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