Only Ferguson and Sir Matt Busby have spent more time as United managers since World War 2 if he completes the three-year contract he signed on Saturday. With its longevity comes the possibility of completing a turnaround.
United hasn't won a trophy in four years. Solskjaer came close last season, losing a penalty shootout in the Europa League final after David de Gea failed to score from 12 yards against Villarreal, but he has had a close call throughout his career, losing four semi-finals and two quarter-finals.
Ferguson is proof that winning one trophy may lead to more, but while Solskjaer has a strong record in other major games and against elite opponents, he has lost a number of knockout ties, including several when United was favored. In the big moments, he needs to shine.
Only three United managers have ever won the Premier League: Ernest Mangnall, Sir Alex Ferguson, and Sir Alex Busby. More importantly, since the Scot's retirement in 2013, no one has seriously contended for the championship. Indeed, they have only had one season of back-to-back top-four results; prior to Solskjaer, they had a habit of regressing every other season.
Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer both finished second in 2018, but they were 19 and 12 points behind Manchester City, respectively. The first objective is to get close to the eventual champions; however, because Chelsea and Liverpool are expected to do better in the Premier League this season than they did last year, United may start as the fourth favorite.
Solskjaer's counter-attacking strategy can be quite effective, especially when playing against good clubs away from home. United, on the other hand, must perform better when the pressure is on them. Only 19 of their last 38 home league games have resulted in victories. They have a tendency to draw 0-0 far too often. They appear to be overly reliant on personal motivation. They have a growing group of match-winners, but they could use a more cohesive strategy to break down well-drilled defenses.
Build on the signature of Sancho Panza.
The £73 million signing of Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund appears to be a coup as well as a statement of intent. It also fit two of Solskjaer's management themes: seeking for young, vibrant, and frequently English players, and spending large to get players who can be long-term fixtures.
Sancho is comparable to Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka in this regard. Raphael Varane is the next target, as he will provide Maguire with a high-class partner to replace Victor Lindelof. For next summer, there are two probable targets: a central midfielder who is superior to Fred and a striker to replace Edinson Cavani if he leaves. However, Sancho's arrival should allow Mason Greenwood to play more centrally; at some point, Solskjaer will have to decide if he is the long-term first-choice center forward.
Choose between Pogba and De Gea.
As he has maneuvered his way through difficult situations, Solskjaer's diplomatic abilities have come in helpful. Paul Pogba has been significantly better managed by him than Mourinho. However, decisions must be made. Pogba's contract is coming to an end, and Paris Saint-Germain are interested. United might lose their record-breaking signing for naught.
On Saturday, Solskjaer smiled and said, "There's always conjecture." “Every time Paul has been here, he has been really professional and has always been willing to go above and beyond for the team. He may stay for a while longer.”
De Gea, on the other hand, finished last season in a job-sharing situation with Dean Henderson, appearing in Europa League games. That is not a sustainable situation, despite the fact that the Spaniard's high salaries will make it difficult to get rid of him if Henderson becomes regular.
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