Man Utd analysis: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer influence a world away from toxicity of Jose Mourinho reign

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Just imagine if Manchester United had sacked Jose Mourinho a month earlier.

That must be the thought going through the minds of Ed Woodward and the Glazer family as the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer effect shows no sign of slowing down.

That's seven straight wins under the interim manager after a 2-1 victory against Brighton at Old Trafford. And with Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard in the form of their lives, this is a club transformed.

A top-four finish is well within touching distance – and Solskjaer has designs on even more.

Should he overhaul Tottenham, it's unlikely there'll even be a debate about whether he deserves the job on a permanent basis.

But as well as looking forward, United's hierarchy may well start to look back.

Should they have allowed Mourinho's toxic reign stumble on as long as it did?

In pictures | The defeats that cost Jose Mourinho his Man United job

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For instance, had defeat to West Ham at the end of September proved his final act, there would have been time to turn the season into more than just a rescue act.

True, there were losses to Manchester City and Liverpool in Mourinho's turbulent final weeks that Solskjaer may not have been able to overturn. But there were also dropped points against Crystal Palace, Southampton and at home to Arsenal.

If those games were played again right now, few would bet against Solskjaer's rejuvenated side taking maximum points.

In Pictures | Man Utd vs Brighton | 19/01/2019

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That is the feeling he's injected into a club that was on its knees before Woodward finally called time on Mourinho.

Supporters turn up to Old Trafford in expectation once again – and a 2-0 half-time lead, courtesy of Pogba's penalty and Rashford's solo strike - against Brighton brought back memories of days of old.

Such opponents used to be rolled over as a matter of course.

That's not quite the case after just a month under Solskjaer. A spirited fightback from Chris Hughton's team, after Pascal Gross' second half goal, was evidence of that.

But in withstanding that threat, this new United passed yet another test.

This a team full of players emboldened by their stand-in manager.

Rashford's wonderful turn and finish just before half-time was a measure of the confidence of a striker who cut a forlorn figure just weeks ago.

EPA

But perhaps more telling was United's refusal to just clear their lines as Brighton applied the pressure – instead insisting of playing their way out of trouble.

They fully believe in their manager and his methods.

The roar from inside Old Trafford after four minutes of added time, meanwhile, underlined the nerves running through a set of supporters who don't want this ride to end.

On this evidence, it's not likely to anytime soon.

Lukaku will have to wait

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Romelu Lukaku may be blowing his strike rivals away in training, but his time on the fringes looks set to continue.

That's because Rashford is virtually immovable at the point of United's attack.

The England international produced a near-faultless centre forward's performance to cement his place in Solskjaer's plans.

Not only did he score a wonderful goal, the likes of which Lukaku doesn't have in his repertoire. But it was his all-round link play – dropping deep and spreading the ball wide – that makes him so pivotal to United's attacking trio.

Man Utd via Getty Images

Solskjaer has found the perfect blend in Rashford, Lingard and Anthony Martial – a trio that blessed with pace, balance, fluidity and individual moments of brilliance.

Lukaku will get his chance. But, for now, Rashford has made the role his own.

Solskjaer's strongest XI

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In naming an unchanged team, Solskjaer appeared to confirm he has set upon his strongest XI.

That's something Mourinho simply couldn't do in his final months in charge.

Luke Shaw's late withdrawal meant Diogo Dalot replaced him in the starting line-up, but Solskjaer will have a good idea of the team he'll name for the big games coming up against Arsenal, Liverpool and PSG over the next month.

Perhaps only Chris Smalling could force his way in when fully fit - but the advantage of playing Phil Jones is that Victor Lindelof can play in his preferred role on the right of central defence

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