Jamie Carragher describes Man United's handling of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sacking as 'shambolic'

Jamie Carragher describes Manchester United’s handling of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sacking as ‘shambolic’ as he should have been let go earlier… and tells Gary Neville to ‘wake up’ for claiming Antonio Conte is not the right fit for the Red Devils

  • Man United are still reeling from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking last weekend
  • The Norwegian was dismissed on Sunday after a 4-1 defeat to Watford
  • Jamie Carragher believes Solskjaer should have been sacked in late October
  • Carragher hit out at Gary Neville for saying Antonio Conte is not right for United 


Jamie Carragher has described Manchester United’s process of sacking Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as ‘shambolic’ and ’embarrassing’ as the Norwegian should have been let go before the November international break. 

The former Red Devils boss was dismissed by the United hierarchy on Sunday following a dismal 4-1 defeat to Watford the day before, which was the club’s fourth defeat in five matches. 

Former Liverpool defender Carragher believes the way United have handled Solskjaer’s dismissal is exactly the wrong way to deal with this scenario. 

Jamie Carragher has described Manchester United's handling of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's sacking as 'shambolic'

Jamie Carragher has described Manchester United’s handling of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking as ‘shambolic’

Solskjaer (right) was dismissed as United boss on Sunday after a 4-1 defeat to Watford

Solskjaer (right) was dismissed as United boss on Sunday after a 4-1 defeat to Watford

The Sky Sports pundit told The Telegraph: ‘There is only one word to sum up Manchester United’s handling of the final months of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign: shambolic.

‘Anyone writing a manual about how to go about replacing a football manager should find the current events at Old Trafford useful. Simply observe how they are going about it and do the opposite.’

Carragher believes Solskjaer should have been let go after United’s 5-0 home loss to Liverpool on October 24, as it would have given the Red Devils hierarchy the chance to use the international break to find a replacement. 

The Liverpool legend also appeared to hit out at Sky colleague Gary Neville for claiming that Antonio Conte – who joined Tottenham earlier this month – was not a good fit for the Red Devils.

Carragher hit out at rival Gary Neville (above) for claiming Antonio Conte was not a good fit

Carragher hit out at rival Gary Neville (above) for claiming Antonio Conte was not a good fit

Conte has won league titles at Juventus, Chelsea and Inter Milan in five out of his last seven seasons and Carragher expressed a ‘bewilderment’ at the thought of the Italian coach not being right for United.   

‘It was obvious after United were hammered by Liverpool in October that (Solskjaer’s) current position was unsustainable,’ Carragher addded.  ‘Soundings to possible replacements ought to have been made then, the international break presenting an opportunity to reset. 

‘It is embarrassing that United could not see that, while Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, and Norwich City (who all sacked managers before the international break) could.

‘Spurs were smart in moving slightly earlier for the outstanding Antonio Conte. We will never know if Conte could have been tempted to United instead, had they shown any interest.

Liverpool icon Carragher also believes the United board, led by Ed Woodward (above), should have sacked Solskjaer in October

Liverpool icon Carragher also believes the United board, led by Ed Woodward (above), should have sacked Solskjaer in October

‘Some say Conte was not the right fit for United. Speak to those at the highest level of football and there is general bewilderment at that. 

‘What exactly do United want? Are they so naive as to believe there is another Sir Alex Ferguson out there, who will run the club in his image for the next 25 years? Wake up! The football world has changed. Those managers do not exist anymore.’

In their statement announcing Solskjaer’s sacking on Sunday, United revealed that Michael Carrick will take temporary charge of the team while the club search for a replacement until the end of the season.  

Neville believes Spurs boss Conte (above) would not match Manchester United's ideology

Neville believes Spurs boss Conte (above) would not match Manchester United’s ideology

Fellow Sky Sports pundit Neville claimed Spurs coach Conte was not an option for United as he did not match the club’s ideology and that ‘Manchester City and Chelsea would never hire him (as well).’ 

‘There will be people who say “Antonio Conte has just gone to Tottenham,”‘ Neville said over the weekend. ‘He was never coming to Manchester United. 

‘Manchester United’s board were never going to appoint Antonio Conte whether you agree with that or not.

‘I don’t think Antonio Conte would have been a fit for Manchester United and I don’t think there is an absolutely perfect fit available at this time so they have to bring someone in temporarily until someone is available who can take forward the work that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has done.’

source: dailymail.co.uk