In 1998, Tottenham had agreed to buy a striker for £5.5 million (S$9.5 million). Both clubs' chairmen had signed the form, until the selling manager intervened.
Alex Ferguson told Ole Gunnar Solskjaer he did not want him to leave Old Trafford. It proved one of the former Manchester United manager's finest decisions: In May 1999, the substitute Solskjaer scored the Champions League final winner.
Twenty-one years later, it still has repercussions. Had the Norwegian joined Spurs, he would not have been the Manchester United great summoned to reconnect an underachieving club with its glorious past. And without that, he would not be in with a chance of replacing Jose Mourinho as United's permanent manager.
His greatest rival for the post is tomorrow's opponent: Tottenham versus United doubles up as a shoot-out between Solskjaer and Mauricio Pochettino.
The Norwegian brings a knowledge of life inside Old Trafford, an understanding of attacking traditions and the popularity that stems from both his playing days and his likeable personality.
He appeals to the nostalgic, but has shown an immediate ability to galvanise United's younger players. He has ditched some of Mourinho's pragmatic choices and played positive football.
Yet his disastrous spell at Cardiff raises questions if he can prosper at a higher level than Norwegian club Molde. His five United wins have come against inferior opponents.
This is a first test against peers whereas Tottenham, fresh from defeating Chelsea in their League Cup game, already have one major scalp this week and a growing record of beating the best at home.
Whereas Solskjaer has had five games at United, Pochettino is in his fifth year at Tottenham. The Premier League's most consistent overachiever promises sustainability.
Solskjaer has had an early effect on United's players, liberating them and allowing them to enjoy themselves, but, deprived of money to spend, Pochettino has continued to improve his Spurs charges. The Argentinian has shown he is tactically clever, swopping formations.
Solskjaer is channelling his mentor Ferguson, looking to outscore opponents. Pochettino's theories owe more to his initial influence, Marcelo Bielsa, the current Leeds manager who was the former coach of Argentina and Chile.
But a philosophy based around pressing and passing at pace makes Pochettino, like Manchester City's Pep Guardiola and Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp, ultra-modern.
Yet if the Argentinian is the outsider, he has a synergy with United: A willingness to trust in youth earned him Ferguson's admiration.
If two enthusiasts offer to be the antithesis of the serial complainer Mourinho, they are his opposite in another respect. Neither has won a trophy in a major league whereas United's last two appointments have been Champions League winners. That does not rule either out, which shows how much an ethos now matters. United have lost their way.
Solskjaer is a reminder of what they stood for, Pochettino of what they could embody. But, as they meet, it is Pochettino who has shown he belongs at this level and Solskjaer who has it all to prove.
TOTTENHAM V MAN UNITED
Singtel TV Ch102 & StarHub Ch227, Monday, 12.30am
Wasteful Barca held to goalless draw at defiant Lyon LYON, France (Reuters) - Barcelona were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at Olympique Lyonnais in their Champions League last-16 first leg on
Wasteful Barca held to goalless draw at defiant Olympique
Emiliano Sala's family have launched a private search for the footballer and the pilot of the missing plane in the hope that they might still be alive. The search for the missing plane was called off last week after days of searching with no trace of the plane or its occupants.
Family launch private search for missing footballer Emiliano
Liverpool just proved why the title is Man City's to lose at end and a rampant Liverpool side gunning for the title. been so rudderless but it does look like Jose's words were his
Football: Albirex Niigata still aim to win trophies despite
Rescuers ended their search on Thursday for the plane carrying Premier League soccer player Emiliano Sala, which disappeared over the English Channel three days ago, after saying there was little
Neymar banned for three Champions League matches over ref rant. By . AFP. They get four guys who don´t understand football to watch a slow motion replay in front of the TV," Neymar wrote in
Neymar banned for three Champions League matches over ref
March 4 - FIFA president Gianni Infantino has hinted at a potential joint Korean bid for the 2023 Women's World Cup. Australia, Japan, South Africa and New Zealand have already expressed their interest in hosting the tournament. The FIFA boss was talking on the sidelines of a meeting of the
North and South Korea joint Women's World Cup bid would be
MADRID • A first trophy in seven years for Liverpool, and a first win in seven finals for Jurgen Klopp. The European Cup headed back to Anfield for the sixth time yesterday and their manager is confident there is much more to come, warning the rest of football's big boys that "this is still only the start".
Jurgen Klopp Vows 'It's Only the Start' for His Liverpool
Gonzalo Higuain has joined Chelsea on loan from Juventus for the remainder of the season, the Premier League club have confirmed. Chelsea then have the option to extend the loan deal for a season
Gonzalo Higuaín joins Chelsea from Juventus on loan with
801-544-9867 Watch Repair. Name Brand Watches and Clocks
Clock core on eBay | Seriously, We have EVERYTHING
AD
: Sergio Aguero of Manchester City celebrates after scoring Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images Sergio Aguero's 14th hat-trick for Manchester City closed the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool to only two points after victory over Arsenal at Etihad Stadium.
Aguero Hat-Trick Fires Man City To 3-1 Win Over Arsenal
The Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs developed a research agenda focused on positive youth development. Through a collaborative consensus-building process, representatives from federal agencies identified three research domains (conceptual issues, data sources and indicators, and program implementation and effectiveness) and key
20 - 24 Nov: MyFootballCamp 2017 - HYFA - ALL ABOUT CITY
Football: Newport 'keeper Joe Day skips FA Cup celebrations after stunning Boro as wife goes into labour
Newport goalkeeper Joe Day cuts short FA Cup celebrations to
0 comments:
Post a Comment