Chelsea vs Man Utd: Rivals Maurizio Sarri and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer fight for futures

Simon Johnson18 February 2019

There is more than just a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals at stake for Maurizio Sarri and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Monday.

The glamour tie of the fifth round gives both men a timely opportunity to prove to their employers why they should remain in charge of Chelsea and Manchester United respectively.

While securing Champions League football remains the duo’s most important task, showing they can guide the team to victory over a direct rival in such a respected competition will help stake a case to their boards.

Of course, there is a significant difference between the duo’s current employment status. Sarri is in a full-time post at Chelsea, having been handed a three-year contract last July, but his job is under threat.

In contrast, Solskjaer is trying to convert the caretaker role he was given two months ago into a permanent position.

Out of the two, Sarri is the one going into the contest under most pressure. Chelsea’s dip in form in the Premier League, where they have lost five of their last 14 games, has seen them drop from third to sixth in the table.

The 60-year-old can ill afford another high-profile loss that would inflict a morale-sapping blow on a squad already lacking in confidence — especially with the difficult run of fixtures that follow over the next nine days.

Chelsea take on Malmo in the second leg of their last 32 Europa League tie on Thursday with their place in the next round not assured despite a 2-1 victory in Sweden.

Then there is the challenge of taking on Manchester City in the EFL Cup Final at Wembley on Sunday — two weeks after the same opponents humiliated Chelsea by winning 6-0, which was their heaviest top-flight defeat 28 years.

A vital League match at home to Tottenham three days later completes the set — no wonder there is a growing suspicion that how this month ends will define Sarri’s future at Stamford Bridge.

As assistant manager Gianfranco Zola said: “It’s a crucial moment. We have some very important matches. It’s very challenging.

“The key will be to face each task only thinking about that particular task. The first will be United and we come into this game after a good performance in the Europa League. Then we’ll think about City and Tottenham.

“The FA Cup fifth round, Carabao Cup Final are very good targets. But there’s also the game against Tottenham to determine the top-four spots. That would be a big achievement for the club, of course. If you do well in these games, it will change a lot of things.”

Sources talk of Sarri as a man who has become increasingly moody at the training ground, as the demands of managing Chelsea takes their toll.

Sarri will know that winning the FA Cup alone will probably not be enough to stay in the post. Just look at his predecessor Antonio Conte.

He lifted the trophy after masterminding a victory against Manchester United in the Final last May, 12 months after securing the title, yet he was still given the boot.

But defeating Manchester United in an earlier round this term could provide exactly the boost Sarri and the players need to succeed in the other competitions, particularly their pursuit of qualifying for the Champions League. The same could be said of Solskjaer, who is facing the first serious test of his credentials since moving into the dug-out at Old Trafford.

It seemed the Norwegian was riding the wave of an unstoppable momentum after winning 11 of his first 12 games, following Jose Mourinho’s sacking.

Being part of the 1999 Treble-winning side helped many of a United persuasion overlook his limited experience as a coach. Put it this way, spells in charge of Molde and Cardiff would not normally get a man an interview for the top job at Old Trafford, let alone the job.

Solskjaer undoubtedly benefitted at first from simply not being Mourinho, whose moody presence and negative tactics had threatened to turn the club into also-rans.

But you do not go on such a fine run without injecting some qualities of your own and the former striker has brought out the best in Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford.

Solskjaer can stake his claim for the permanent job
AFP/Getty Images

However, a comprehensive 2-0 home defeat against Paris St-Germain in the Champions League last week provided a reality check and raised doubts over his suitability to be given the post long-term.

Zola studied for his coaching badges at the same time as Solskjaer and believes the Norwegian is a worthy candidate for the position.

He added: “What Ole has done in a short period of time has been quite remarkable. Could I see he was a top coach in waiting? Yes, of course. He was always interested and focused on what he was doing. I’m pleased he’s showing his quality.”

History is on Chelsea’s side, having beaten Manchester United in their last four FA Cup meetings and lost just twice against them at home in 22 games.

Chelsea also go into the contest knowing they have raised their game on home soil twice this season, to defeat Manchester City in the League and Spurs in the EFL Cup semi-final. How Sarri could do with making it a hat-trick.

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