Solskjaer's Man City comments that infuriated Man Utd fans and aged very badly
The tide has turned in Manchester over the past decade - and it depends on whether you're a red or a blue as to whether that's a good thing or not.
After years of domestic dominance, Manchester United's noisy neighbours have not only caught up with the Premier League giants, they've overtaken them; something that was punctuated when Manchester City completed their own remarkable treble back in June.
The power had shifted long before Rodri's decisive strike in Istanbul, though. City have struck up a domestic monopoly under Pep Guardiola since the Spaniard's arrival in 2016 while United have floundered under scores of different coaches. One of them, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, knew about United's rivalry with City more than most have enjoyed a sparkling playing career at Old Trafford before moving into the dugout.
But that didn't prevent the Norwegian from riling up those very same fans who idolised him on the terraces years ago with his comments after United were thumped 3-1 by their neighbours in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-finals back in 2020.
Solskjaer, who back then had been at the helm for almost a year, said after the match: "You know, when you play Man City in the Carabao Cup and they put their strongest team out, you know you've gone places. It means they respect us, and teams start to respect Man United coming here. So, I didn't take that too badly, you know? I took it as a compliment that they came out with their best players."
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Yikes. Not that fans particularly needed it spelled in black and white, Solskjaer's chastening comments drove home just how far United have fallen behind City in recent years.
Join the debate! How do you think Man Utd can get back on top? Let us know here.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's verdict on Manchester City back in 2020 did not go down well with Manchester United fans (Sky Sports)But perhaps the most alarming thing of all is that his comments haven't particularly aged well, either. That gulf has developed into something of a chasm, too, since he was dismissed back in November 2021.
Despite a season of promise under Erik ten Hag last year, United are levels below where City are right now. If you were going to back any of the Premier League's elite to wrestle the title away from Manchester City, nobody would be backing United.
Football is all about cycles and it's inevitable that United will find their way back to the top one day. But the three-and-a-half years that have passed since Solskjaer's ill-judged comments have made it clear that it won't be an overnight process.
Solskjaer was tasked with ending Pep Guardiola and Manchester City's domestic dominance (Getty Images)Things might even have to get worse before they get better. Fresh investment and a fresh voice is on the horizon in the form of new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe but the Ineos chief and his minority stake in the club is hardly the clean break from the current hierarchy which the fans crave.
He might be able to sort United's recruitment out, though, which would go some way to getting them back on the right path. But for now, and the foreseeable future, Manchester is very much blue.
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