Manchester United are set to sack Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with Darren Fletcher poised to take temporary charge.
The Manchester Evening News understands club executives decided they must act now in the wake of the humiliating 4-1 defeat at on Saturday and technical director Fletcher could be in charge as soon as Tuesday's penultimate Champions League group game at Villarreal. Fletcher is expected to be assisted by Michael Carrick.
Multiple sources have confirmed to the MEN tonight that United will sack Solskjaer and United are finalising the Norwegian's compensation package of around £7.75million.
United have downplayed speculation linking Zinedine Zidane with the manager's role and sources have suggested the Zidane links have been a tactic to appease an increasingly frustrated Cristiano Ronaldo.
It is understood Ronaldo's agent, Jorge Mendes, sought reassurances from the United board that decisive action would be taken at managerial level shortly after the Watford humbling.
Ronaldo played under Zidane at Real Madrid when they won three successive Champions Leagues between 2016 and 2018. Both left the club in the same summer.
Fletcher was in the United dugout for the Watford game, having previously observed matches from the directors' box and the press box.
The timing of Solskjaer's expected removal will raise further questions about the running of United by the club's owners, the Glazer family, outgoing executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and his expected replacement, the managing director Richard Arnold.
United resisted sacking Solskjaer in the wake of the 5-0 drubbing by Liverpool on October 24 even though they had a six-day gap until their next match at Tottenham. United also decided against dismissing Solskjaer during the November international fortnight, a traditionally popular time for clubs to change managers.
The MEN revealed this week United suits had decided a change of manager would be required and started the process of identifying Solskjaer's successor. Solskjaer signed a new three-year contract in July and United gave no consideration to sacking him before the Liverpool result.
Solskjaer took over as caretaker manager in December 2018 before he was appointed permanent manager three months later, having led United to 14 wins in his first 19 games in charge.
United finished third in Solskjaer's first full season as manager and rose to second in the following campaign, but their form has collapsed this term amid the expectation of a Premier League title challenge. United have taken four points from their last 21 in the league and they are 12 points behind leaders Chelsea.
ARNOLD7MANU
98
I really think this team lack of discipline, composure, tactics, and get me right if I'm wrong I like Cr7 for him being Legend of this club blablabla but he is somehow impacting the other players on my point of view. PreRonaldo time there were a sort of team spirit and All attacking players can show what they've got even BF was one of the best passing, scoring, feeding Greenie, Rashie and others unfortunately it's not the case anymore everything should be given to Cr7 otherwise he's body language will show he ain't happy. Cr7 should be bench from time to time unless he finds a way to cop with the team. Manchester united ain't like Psg with all those good players surrounding Messi. it's a team with lads ready to improve, score and play as a team and this Cr7 effect is just scattering everything. I don't hate the guy for Cr7 fans I love him but let us face the reality here including our team not having a proper leader, good midfielder, this team is just unrecognisable at the moment.
Nandha77
71
Sancho Doubled 007 now he is 0014 😬
Lionel10Messi10
9
I really think this team lack of discipline, composure, tactics, and get me right if I'm wrong I like Cr7 for him being Legend of this club blablabla but he is somehow impacting the other players on my point of view. PreRonaldo time there were a sort of team spirit and All attacking players can show what they've got even BF was one of the best passing, scoring, feeding Greenie, Rashie and others unfortunately it's not the case anymore everything should be given to Cr7 otherwise he's body language will show he ain't happy. Cr7 should be bench from time to time unless he finds a way to cop with the team. Manchester united ain't like Psg with all those good players surrounding Messi. it's a team with lads ready to improve, score and play as a team and this Cr7 effect is just scattering everything. I don't hate the guy for Cr7 fans I love him but let us face the reality here including our team not having a proper leader, good midfielder, this team is just unrecognisable at the moment.
I agree with you, if you watch psg games you know that how deep messi comes like cdm spot, in barca/Argentina he used to drop deep only to collect the ball and playmake but here he needs to do so much of defensive work this is the reason ronaldo didn't want allegri and vice versa because ronaldo does not do pressing from front it puts a lot of pressure jn other attackers to cover up and when you have ronaldo in your team, the coach does not have many options, that is why players like greenwood, bruno were involved more in attacking before ronaldo came and if they stay in attack with ronaldo the gap between the defense and attck will invlcrease wo much that pogba and Fred will die of covering the space the team needs to be compact