08 March 2024 , 12:55
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed that the meeting where he was formally informed he was being sacked by Manchester United only lasted around five minutes.
The Norwegian, 50, had already secured his place in United folklore as a player before stepping into the dugout on an interim basis back in December 2018. He was appointed as the club's permanent manager just three months later following a string of impressive results and was at the helm until November 2021.
Solskjaer was under significant pressure after overseeing an underwhelming start to the 2021/22 campaign, but it was a chastening 4-1 defeat at Watford which proved fatal for the former Molde chief.
He has since admitted he knew he would be sacked when United went in 2-0 down at the break. He wasn't officially relieved of his duties, though, until he was summoned to a meeting by Ed Woodward the following morning.
Solskjaer met with the club's former executive vice chairman for just five minutes before conducting an exit interview. Speaking on the Stick to Football Podcast, Solskjaer said: "At half-time against Watford I knew, that's it. So the team talk at half-time was about, 'Whoever wants to play can play, put your hand up if you don't want to play'. Made a few changes, couple of the lads actually in tears, and they had a go.
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"Then after the game I knew, but I didn't hear anything. But I still knew. The next morning you get a text: 'I want to see you in my office'. So I knew. I'd just left my missus at the airport and then text her 'I think I'll be coming back with you'.
"I took about five minutes with Ed [Woodward] and then stayed and spoke to some of the lads and did an interview because I needed to do it properly. I've always seen managers leave it... like two months later they slag someone off... that's not me. I'm like 'No, I want to do it now, tell everyone I'm proud and privileged and move on.'"
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Solskjaer was summoned to meet Ed Woodward on the morning of his exit (Sky Sports)Solskjaer has kept a relatively low profile since leaving a handful of players in tears with his final Manchester United team talk. He has, however, since hinted that he is ready to return to management after taking time to recharge.
Speaking at an event in New Dehli last month, Solskjaer teased: "I’ve got at least one club job in me. It has to be an interesting one, somewhere, an adventure, somewhere I can be myself.
"No disrespect but after you’ve managed Manchester United for three years it’s like where do you go? I want to feel that pressure again. When you see the games, you miss it."
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