Ole's Rebuild: Following Ferguson's Blueprint

By @UtdSFX. published on 16/08/21

12th May 2019

Manchester United 0-2 Cardiff City.

You may not thank me for reminding you of this game, but it is a significant moment in our recent history.

Rudderless, sluggish, out of ideas… you'd think I'd be describing bottom of the table (and already relegated) Cardiff. Unfortunately not.

That day it was clear to everyone that manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, newly appointed following a successful interim period, had a mountain ahead of him to bring United back to the top. But mountains are there to be climbed, as the Norwegian once famously remarked.

Luckily, Solskjaer had a front row seat to the master of the rebuild during his playing career, the one and only Sir Alex Ferguson. Here I'll attempt to explain the similarities in their tactics in building, or rebuilding, a dynasty.

When Sir Alex arrived in November 1986, Manchester United were essentially a cup team. It had been 19 years and counting since the last league success, and even two FA Cup wins were not enough to save Ron Atkinson. Ferguson knew the mentality had to change.

"From the moment I got to Manchester United, I thought of only one thing: building a football club".

However, building a club takes time. You have to start from the ground up. Sir Alex understood that to maintain success, short term thinking was meaningless.

"Winning a game is only a short-term gain – you can lose the next game. Building a club brings stability and consistency".

Ferguson set about changing things for the long term. Youth was prioritised. Manchester was flooded with United scouts, searching for top local talent.

Standards were put in place to improve fitness and professionalism to address concerns that a 'drinking culture' had become ingrained at the club.

Money was spent. New blood brought in. The likes of Mark Hughes, Brian McClair, Lee Sharpe and Steve Bruce arrived. Some young, some experienced, all with a point to prove.

Popular players exited, including Norman Whiteside and Paul McGrath. The bus was not waiting for those unwilling to get on board. Things were changing, but success wasn't instant.

After a few trophyless years, some called for Ferguson to be sacked. The only difference is fans wrote their messages of discontent on bed sheets instead of social media.

However, Sir Alex was confident the changes brought forward would eventually bear fruit. It's safe to say he was right.

Eventually, he built a squad in his image. There were leaders on every inch of the field, carrying out his every instruction. The FA Cup came first in 1990, the Cup Winner's Cup the following season.

Piece by piece the puzzle was formed, the final piece being a certain talismanic Frenchman by the name of Eric Cantona. The catalyst.

Trophy parades started and never stopped. The trees Sir Alex planted years before then started to blossom in the form of the Class of 92, ensuring the next great United team would be ready to take over.

The blueprint for success was set, and would be followed multiple times during Ferguson's reign to sustain success for over 20 years.

Noticing any similarities yet??

Like Sir Alex in '86, Ole had to start again. The team outclassed, and perhaps more embarrassingly, outrun, by Cardiff on that sunny May afternoon would be stripped down and reassembled.

Solskjaer stated that before his side could think about titles, they first had to run further, harder and faster than their opponents. Fitness and sports science departments neglected by the previous manager would be prioritised again. Higher standards needed to be set.

"I am going to be successful here… and some of these players won't be part of that".

Solskjaer famously made his intentions clear after a 4-0 humiliation away at Everton a few weeks earlier. He certainly didn't hold back on his promise.

Romelu Lukaku, United's second most expensive player in history at the time, was sold to Inter. He was joined by Alexis Sanchez, initially on loan, who was easily United's highest paid player. Both had played their last games for the club.

Chris Smalling, Marouane Fellaini and Ashley Young departed. Symbols of United's malaise in the post-Fergie era were being phased out. The bus was moving again.

Youth once again became the focus. At just 17 years old, Mason Greenwood had made his full senior debut that afternoon against Cardiff. The seeds had been planted, just as Sir Alex had done years before. Academy graduates Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay became key figures, while Dean Henderson now stands on the verge of becoming the club's #1.

Under Ole, United have poached prospects from European powerhouses such as Barcelona and Real Madrid, not to mention our own neighbours in City and Liverpool. Business Sir Alex would be proud of! Along with our homegrown talent, United's academy hasn't looked as good in a generation.

First team recruitment improved. Gone are the days of new managers forcing their philosophies on a club with an already established modus operandi.

Solskjaer added quality, while also bringing through a new crop of leaders. Harry Maguire became club captain just months after signing, highlighting the previous lack of personality on the pitch.

But, as always, rebuilds are not a quick process. United sat 7th in January 2020 following a string of uninspired performances. Some fans had made their minds up on Ole and pressure in the media had become suffocating.

Then came the catalyst. Bruno Miguel Borges Fernandes. His arrival coincided with an unbeaten league run that eventually saw United finish the 2019/20 Premier League season in 3rd. Like Cantona, Bruno sparked United into life, improving players around him and making fans believe again.

The progress continued last season. Following a 2-2 draw with Leicester, a game that saw United drop points despite taking the lead late on, Bruno summed up the change in attitude:

"I was really happy when I got in the dressing room and I saw everyone disappointed and saying the things we had to do better. You are creating a winning mentality and we are not happy with this point".

Slowly but surely, the mentality of the team has shifted, with United improving one place further into 2nd place in 2020/21.

By harnessing youth, implementing a clear recruitment strategy, improving fitness levels and instilling a winning mentality and a sense of leadership across the squad, Solskjaer has brought United closer to challenging than at any time since Ferguson's departure.

However, the trophies that fans crave, and that Solskjaer will ultimately be judged by, have still not arrived.

Our manager knows more than anyone that success is judged on silverware. But United's progress is undeniable, and it's clear to see that Ole's Reds are on the right track.

Further strengthening has seen confidence build. With world class talents Jadon Sancho and Raphaël Varane putting pen to paper, 2021/22 is set to be a big season. An opening day to remember has added to the excitement, with Ole's boys smashing five past old rivals Leeds United in a dominant display.

Watching United score 4 goals in 14 minutes on Saturday, there were shades of another 5-1 opening day victory. 2006/07 vs Fulham, Rooney and Ronaldo blew the Cottagers away to put United 4-0 up after 19 minutes. That season ended with a league title, bringing an end to the longest drought under Sir Alex in the Premier League era.

We may not be at the finish line just yet, but this season feels different, just as it did back in 2006. This team has turned a corner. The roar from the expectant Old Trafford crowd is now one of positivity and encouragement. Fans and players - United.

If Solskjaer continues to follow Ferguson's blueprint to success, I have every confidence that we will be celebrating in the not too distant future. The bus is leaving the station, and this time Ole's at the wheel. It's time to get on board.