Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has opened up about the deep disappointment and regret he felt regarding Manchester United’s humiliating 5-0 loss to Liverpool during the 2021/22 season.
This defeat, which occurred in October 2021, marked a significant low point in Solskjaer’s tenure as the manager of Manchester United.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks on from the touchline during a 5-0 loss to Liverpool
Liverpool, under the management of Jurgen Klopp, took control of the match and stormed to a four-goal lead by halftime, adding a fifth goal after the restart.
The defeat intensified the pressure on Solskjaer, and it ultimately played a crucial role in his departure from the club, with his tenure lasting only three more matches before his dismissal.
Solskjaer, who has not returned to football management since his exit from Old Trafford, took the time to reflect on his time in charge of Manchester United and admitted that the loss to Liverpool at home was his lowest point as the manager.
He recognized the quality of both Manchester City and Liverpool during his time and praised their managers and teams.
In discussing the Liverpool match, Solskjaer mentioned that he believed his players were prepared for the challenge, similar to their successful performance against Manchester City.
However, he acknowledged that he made the wrong tactical decision by opting to go on the offensive. Despite the possession and chances being relatively balanced at halftime, United found themselves 4-0 down, and the match ended 5-0.
Solskjaer singled out Roberto Firmino as the opposition player who posed the most significant challenges to him as a manager during that particular game. He contrasted the Liverpool loss with the 6-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, explaining that the latter was influenced by a red card.
When asked about reviewing the matches from his time as United’s manager, Solskjaer admitted that he had watched most of them but could not bring himself to revisit the highlights of the Liverpool defeat, along with three other painful losses against Liverpool, Tottenham (6-1 loss), and Watford (4-1 loss).
He also mentioned a regret regarding the 2021 Europa League final, stating that he should have either started or brought on Nemanja Matic against Villarreal, as he believed the game was suited to him, but he chose differently.
