Topics: Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Premier League, Sir Alex Ferguson, Football
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did not win any silverware as Manchester United manager, although he did do something few others have managed: get an apology out of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Solskjaer's tenure as United boss started like a fairytale, with 14 wins in his 19 games in charge as caretaker manager earning him the job on a permanent basis.
The legendary striker was fast becoming a legendary coach, and in 2021 he guided United to the final of the Europa League.
However, as time went on, Solskjaer's tactical naivety started to become more apparent. After a dramatic dip in performances at the start of the 2021/22 season, the Norwegian coach was dismissed.
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Coaching is not easy, especially when you are as emotionally tied-up with a club to the extent that Solskjaer is with United.
The last thing a coach needs is to be given advice by former coaches and club legends, especially when the topic of discussion is team selection.
That's exactly what happened in 2021 though, when Solskjaer decided to bench returning club legend Cristiano Ronaldo.
Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford in dramatic circumstances in the summer of 2021, as he looked set to join neighbours Manchester City.
The Portuguese star enjoyed a successful campaign, scoring 18 goals in 30 league appearances, but occasionally, Solskjaer felt his side would be better served with a different attacking option.
On one such occasion, Solskjaer's former United boss Sir Alex Ferguson publicly questioned his decision, but promptly apologised for doing so.
"That’s the one time Sir Alex has ever apologised to me," Solskjaer told fans at an event at Manchester's Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel this week.
"He was caught on a video saying, ‘You should always play your best players,’ after Ronaldo started on the bench for one game. He [Ferguson] rang me and apologised because he knows how difficult it is."
That match was likely the 1-1 draw with Everton on 2 October, 2021, when Solskjaer started Edinson Cavani over Ronaldo.
Given how Ronaldo's performances nose-dived the following season and the way he forced his way out of the club, perhaps Solskjaer saw that trouble was brewing before anybody else.
