Published on 2nd January 2019 by Andrew Mills

Ole Gunnar Solksjaer’s appointment as the new manager of British football giant Manchester United in the wake of Jose Mourinho’s firing in December of 2018 has been greeted with optimism by fans and pundits alike.It appears that appointing Solksjaer, who was a legend at the club as a player, has also caught the eye of bookmakers, as Utd have seen a heavy reduction in their odds of reaching the top four this season.

Top four odds

After 5-1, 3-1, and 4-1 wins against Cardiff, Huddersfield, and Bournemouth respectively since Solksjaer took on the manager role, confidence has grown, and Utd have seen their odds of finishing in the top four cut from 7/1 to 7/2 at Ladbrokes, a full halving of the odds.Solksjaer himself is not taking anything for granted however, with the new manager expecting improvement even after the impressive recent form of the club, saying:“We are looking for that clean sheet, we are looking for that foundation to let those front four just go and enjoy themselves because when you know you are keeping a clean sheet at the back, it is easier to perform and to create chances.”

What might have been

There are many who say that United could have been legitimate title contenders had the made the managerial switch earlier, but as it is, the club have dropped from third favourites to take the title in the pre-season, with odds of 8/1, to a depressing 500/1 at BetVictor at this point.The transfer window will be the next big test for the struggling powerhouse, with fans hoping that January will see Man Utd fill the massive hole they have at centre-half, and maybe bring in some more new blood too.Whatever happens, it feels like Manchester United are never more than one or two changes away from a return to the top.