“When I got sacked, I know it wasn’t my fault. There are a lot of issues and players inside the club that affected me badly, and it’s now affecting Erik ten Hag. The same players are still there.” – Ole Gunnar Solskjær comments on Erik ten Hag’s PR problem at Manchester United and the ‘dangerous’ changes.

Ole Gunnar Solskjær has shared insights into the challenges at Manchester United related to PR agencies, which are currently impacting the club’s manager, Erik ten Hag. Solskjær, who served as the manager for three years after his illustrious playing career at the club, highlighted the significant changes in communication between his time on the pitch and on the sidelines.

He specifically mentioned the challenges posed by PR agencies, emphasizing the shift in the way managers communicate with players. Solskjær pointed out the prevalence of PR agencies for players and how it has affected direct communication. He referred to a lack of communication that led to issues with Jadon Sancho, who subsequently went on loan to Borussia Dortmund.

“It’s completely different, the way you talk to them… everyone has PR agencies and all these,” Solskjær remarked. “Back in the day, if Sir Alex Ferguson wanted to speak to me, he rang my phone and he spoke to me or we spoke on the training ground.”

Ole Gunnar Solskjær expressed his reservations about the modern game, particularly highlighting the prevalence of agents and management in player communication. He noted that in the past, direct communication between managers and players was more straightforward, contrasting it with the current reliance on various agents and PR agencies. Solskjær finds this shift strange, emphasizing the importance of personal connections and trust in football.

Additionally, Solskjær critiqued the trend of coaches providing explicit instructions to players from a young age, characterizing it as “dangerous.” He believes that players should have the freedom to make decisions on the pitch, emphasizing the importance of creativity and decision-making. While acknowledging the existence of a framework, Solskjær highlighted the significance of players being capable of making independent decisions, a quality he believes makes a difference on the field.