Ed Woodward holds crisis talks with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after seven defeats in nine for Man Utd boss
Sponsored by
ED WOODWARD brought Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Mike Phelan in for crisis talks yesterday.
The Manchester United executive vice-chairman sat down with the manager and his assistant at Carrington to address the current slump in form which has seen the Red Devils lose seven of their last nine matches.
It is their worst run of form in 57 years and, according to the , Woodward called the lunchtime meeting - just hours after the derby defeat to City on Wednesday night - to discuss the top four and also team selection leaks.
United look likely to miss out on the Champions League next season, sitting three points behind Chelsea in fourth and two behind fifth-placed Arsenal.
However, Maurizio Sarri's men travel to Old Trafford on Sunday and a win for Solskjaer could bring his side right back into contention.
Woodward reportedly questioned Solskjaer and Phelan over the fact that his team for the City game was leaked hours before kick-off - with Matteo Darmian brought in for his first appearance since January 19.
United's players were understood to be "baffled" that Solskjaer had decided to hold training at The Cliff on Wednesday, rather than at Carrington.
It was thought to be a way of trying to motivate the players but the majority were unimpressed.
And in a series of exclusives revealed by SunSport today, things could be set to get worse for Solskjaer and his assistant Phelan, who has been linked with the technical director role expected to be created at Old Trafford this summer.
POG PROBLEM
Influential midfielder Paul Pogba is wanted by Real Madrid and has told team-mates he does not believe United have made any progress since he left for Juventus seven years ago.
To make matters worse, he is not convinced Solskjaer is the right man to take the club forward, despite his upturn in form when the Norwegian arrived.
Now Solskjaer has the gig full time, he is trying to exert his authority on the dressing room following seven defeats in nine.
Pogba, though, who was named in the PFA team of the year, remains a powerful and influential voice among the rest of the squad.
He was among the players not impressed by Solskjaer’s long-ball tactics against City as they looked to get it forward to Marcus Rashford.
SunSport has also learned he was shot down by team-mates in the dressing room at Goodison Park while he was complaining after the 4-0 humiliation by Everton.
Latest Manchester United news
And his agent Mino Raiola cancelled a meeting with United last week about a new deal for the Frenchman - he has his heart set on leaving.
With Pogba appearing to be on his way out, Solskjaer may also lose Eric Bailly and David De Gea this summer.
Bailly is a target for Arsenal while goalkeeper De Gea will be handed the £350,000-per-week wages he is demanding if he signs on the dotted line at Paris Saint-Germain.