Fletcher: United writing off two seasons with Solskjaer interim appointment

Darren Fletcher is worried that Manchester United will not be competitive for two seasons due to making a temporary appointment.

Published : Dec 19, 2018 19:23 IST

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been interim manager at Manchester United after the club sacked Jose Mouirnho.

Former Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher believes the club has condemned itself to two seasons of rebuilding by appointing his former team-mate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on a temporary basis.

The Red Devils sacked struggling boss Jose Mourinho on Tuesday before confirming the return of Old Trafford favourite Solskjaer, from Norwegian side Molde, in an interim role until the end of the season.

READ | Manchester United appoints Solskjaer until end of season

But Fletcher, who won the Premier League alongside Solskjaer in 2006-07, believes United should have moved for a permanent successor to Mourinho immediately. The Stoke City midfielder worries that his former club will not give the new manager enough time to mount a challenge in 2019-20 after the expected appointment in the close-season.

"Manchester United should never be in this position," Fletcher told BBC Sport .

"They're almost writing off this season and next season because if they appoint a new manager in the summer, he's not going to have much time to look for new players. There is a real concern that you could have two seasons of rebuilding again."

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Solskjaer's United reign will begin on Saturday with a trip to Cardiff City, with which he suffered relegation in 2015, his only previous coaching stint in the Premier League.