RDM and OGS: Chelsea wrote the book Man U is following for interim success

With Manchester United resurgent under the management of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, it’s good to see them adopting the Chelsea model once again.

Having given Jose Mourinho a shot at returning Manchester United to heights once achieved by Sir Alex Ferguson, his failure and subsequent mid-season sacking mirrors Chelsea’s dismissal of Andre Villas-Boas in 2012. Both clubs’ boards chose to replace failing managers with two fan favourites and, in doing so, rekindle their club’s DNA.

Mourinho was sacked much earlier in the season than Villas-Boas: 18 December against 4 March. Solskjaer’s arrival breathed new life into his team as Roberto di Matteo did when he relieved Villas-Boas.

Jose Mourinho was sacked by United after a 3-1 away defeat at Liverpool on matchday 17. Solskjaer was appointed in quick time and his side are rapidly developing the ways of the United that were so unbeatable in the Ferguson years. It’s no great surprise the Norwegian decided to install Ferguson’s ex-right hand man Mike Phelan alongside him. Moving him on was David Moyes’ first mistake after taking over from his fellow Scot.

For Chelsea, Di Matteo’s end-of-season stint delivered the FA Cup and Champions League. Not too shabby for an interim manager. In the Premier League, following AVB’s departure after matchday 27, the club dropped from fifth to finish sixth as they clearly focused on the cup competitions.

There’s an argument that almost anyone could have come in to manage the Chelsea team at that time, so strong were they on the field. With a spine consisting of Petr Cech, John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba, everyone knew the Chelsea style and how to implement it. Villas-Boas, on the other hand, had tried to lower the average age of the squad during his short spell by ousting the more senior players and choosing to play a high line in his 4-3-3 formation.

As Chelsea found out in 2015/16 and United found out this season, Jose Mourinho can have a somewhat destructive influence on a team he takes charge of.

If the players in his charge are prepared to stay on board with his modus operandi then it’s happy days – see Chelsea during Mourinho’s first stint – but if they are not prepared to tow the line and track back, then they won’t be playing very much. That has an unsettling effect on team morale which creates a vortex of doom that can engulf a whole club.

Once down in the depths of despair – as Chelsea were in 2012 and United were towards the end of last year – a change is much better than a rest. That vortex of doom can quickly morph into a hurricane of success with the right appointment. Roberto di Matteo was a coach under Villas-Boas and was the natural replacement for the Portuguese to see the season out. With Eddie Newton alongside him, no one could possibly have predicted how the season would end.

Solskjaer has gone on a decent run since taking over. The players look happier and the cloud Mourinho created has evaporated. To decide who had the easier task of returning the feel-good factor, a look at the respective managers’ first starting XI’s may help.

Di Matteo’s team was stronger and it had the added strength of that classic trophy-winning spine: Cech, Terry, Lampard and Drogba. Pick a starting XI between the two sides and the majority would be Chelsea.

United fans now, like Chelsea’s then, appreciate the values former players bring to the table. But is a short-term fix the answer?

Di Matteo’s two trophies were enough to get him the Chelsea job permanently, and why not? He’d realised Roman Abramovich’s dream of Champions League glory. As a long-term manager, though, it was not to be. Having been rewarded with a two-year contract, he was fired just three months later.

Solskjaer has not been given the job permanently just yet, and whilst the club are fighting on two fronts why risk upsetting the applecart? Having been dumped out of the FA Cup by Wolves, United must look to the Champions League for the chance of a trophy or they’ll have to hope for a place in the top four.

Di Matteo is evidence that you need more than a feel for the club to succeed. It’s all about managing when things are not going well. The next few weeks will tell for Solskjaer.

After leaving Chelsea the Italian had two short spells in management at Schalke 04 and Aston Villa and that was it, game over. But Di Matteo will always be a Chelsea legend for bringing that Champions League trophy back to Stamford Bridge and that what counts for fans.

Red Devils fans will just have to wait to see what Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s legacy becomes.