The three Man Utd players Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has transformed

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In just over a month, Ole Gunnar Solskjær has catapulted Manchester United back into the Premier League’s top five.

Solskjær came in, made United fans happy when skies were grey and the Red Army don’t want the Old Trafford hierarchy to take him away. We know this because they chant it incessantly to the in the stands.

Ever since the Norwegian one returned to the club that made him famous, the Red Devils have captured the kind form and style reminiscent of the title-winning teams that he featured in as a player.

Some players have thrived under the new regime while others, most of whom were brought in by managers attempting to impress their own philosophies at the club, have not really looked like true Man Utd players – Marouane Fellaini being the first casualty this January.

Here are three players Solskjær has transformed since taking over in December.

Paul Pogba

The World Cup winner described himself as being “in the shadows” under Mourinho, but is dancing in the light under Solskjær.“It is a pleasure to play again. Now I am always smiling,” Pogba told the Guardian

The tension between Mourinho and Pogba was palpable and the latter was reported to be considering a move away from Old Trafford in January before the former was given his marching orders. The France international was often deployed in a more defensive berth in the Portuguese’s playbook, much to the frustration of the player and United’s fans who were getting increasingly ticked off by sideways-and-back United. The Frenchman’s sharp mind, agility on the ball and vision are clearly suited to a more advanced role. This was made clear again on Sunday when the 26-year-old intercepted a loose Leicester pass and instantly lofted a beautifully weighted and supremely accurate ball into the path of Marcus Rashford who calmly found the net with a purposeful strike past Kasper Schmeichel.

As well as being an extraordinarily gifted athlete, Pogba is a highly intelligent player who brims with the kind of charisma possessed by a certain French king who used to wow the Theatre of Dreams in the 90s. These qualities could be considered as arrogance, but they’re marks of a leader. This is something OGS has recognised and the Norwegian has talked up Pogba to become a United captain only five months after Mourinho stripped him of the vice-captaincy. “He’s a character, he influences people, he cares and he really wants to be successful,” United’s caretaker manager told the Guardian. “I know him from before and when he’s enjoying himself he brings so many good things with him.

“He knows he can’t do it by himself, he knows it’s a team game but you can see the personality, you can see what winning the World Cup meant to him, so for me, yes, he’s captain material.”

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Marcus Rashford

A favourite among United fans who love to see a local lad thrive, Rashford has received the confidence of the caretaker manager, replacing the pricey Romelu Lukaku as United’s prime centre-forward. The England international hasn’t betrayed that confidence and is regularly finding the net under Solskjær. The 21-year-old forward reached 10 Premier League goals with his finish against Leicester and now has eight in his last 13 games.

Pundits have remarked that Rashford lacked composure in front of goal and since OGS arrived in the dugout he’s benefited from having a former striker in his ear. In truth, Rashford wasn’t trusted to be United’s No.1 under Mourinho, the Portuguese was probably too embarrassed to sideline his multi-million pound striker, Romelu Lukaku. Solskjær is not encumbered with such buyers guilt and is more than comfortable with leaving the Belgian in the cold, warming the bench. And Rashford, comfortable on the left, right and through the middle, is rapidly leaving the one-dimensional Belgian in the dust as he becomes a complete forward at Old Trafford.

Rashford is playing so well under Solskjær that some are wondering if he can become as good as United legend Cristiano Ronaldo, with whom he shares a similar statistical profile after 149 games – the 21-year-old is on 40 goals and Ronaldo was on just 31 at the same point.

Anthony Martial

Another Frenchman benefitting from Solskjær’s tenure, Martial is finally living up to the promise he showed during his maiden season at Old Trafford. Martial had to surrender the No.9 jersey when Lukaku was brought in and was given a job-share on the left flank with Rashford after that. That was until Alexis Sanchez arrived last January and only cameo roles followed; Martial arguably missing out on receiving a World Cup medal as a result. Things were so demoralising for the France international that he was heavily linked him with a move away from the club at the end of the season.

However, after Mourinho’s departure, Martial is beginning to suit the club’s legendary No.11 shirt. His supersonic dribbling on the left wing is what made the shirt famous when Ryan Giggs wore it over the course of the most successful playing career in the Premier League era. Martial’s got his swagger back and it earned him a new five-year deal which he signed with glee at the end of January.

Former club captain Gary Neville thinks that’s the right move and believes Martial can become one of the best in Europe in his position. The Red Devils legend told Sky Sports: “It would be too big a risk to let someone of that potential and promise [to leave].

“He is still at a good level, his assists and goals record are not bad, but there is a lot more to come from him.

“This contract is a reward for him and he now has a manager who believes in him and is playing him in different positions and making him do different things.

“From United’s point of view, they now need a return on that investment and that promise and potential that he has shown in glimpses and moments in the last three-and-a-half years to now become a consistent set of performances that will mean he becomes one of the best players in Europe in his position.”

The post The three Man Utd players Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has transformed appeared first on Squawka News.



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