Solskjaer has work to do as Manchester United's new manager, but hope is in the air

There is no doubt that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's appointment as Manchester United's permanent manager is well-deserved. The results speak for themselves. Solskjaer has taken United into the Champions League quarterfinal and made a group of (quality) players who looked down and out under his predecessor, Jose Mourinho, contenders for a top-four finish. The only real disappointment so far has been the FA Cup exit at the hands of Wolverhampton Wanderers. But, the big question is, will he be able to restore the lost glory of Old Trafford next season? Or will he, too, like the more established managers who have tried to fill Sir Alex Ferguson's boots before him, wilt under the pressure to deliver silverware while playing entertaining football.

Amid all the positivity around United now, it is necessary to remember that England's most successful club of all time has not won a trophy since the 2016-2017 season. Since it last won the Premier League in Ferguson's final season in 2012-2013, the club has won just three major trophies in six seasons (including the 2018-2019 season, unless there is a Barcelona-killing in the offing, but more on that later). This is not acceptable for a club of this stature. For comparison, in Ferguson's last six seasons, United won eight major trophies, including the FIFA Club World Cup. So, there will be pressure for trophies in Solskjaer's first full season. And it could turn out to be quite different than his spell as United's saviour this season.

For one, there will be huge expectations. Fans will expect attacking and consistent football, and the board will expect progress (and more revenue). Secondly, this season, Solskjaer has turned around the player's morale and let them do the talking on the pitch. But, next season, he will have to make some tough decisions that could affect the morale in the dressing room. And, most importantly, he will have to buy the right players to improve his squad. There have been few good buys since Ferguson retired, and this is one area that needs urgent correction. The only way United can get out of the 'transition' limbo the team has been stuck in for half a decade is by making dramatic changes to the squad. This does not necessarily mean hundreds of millions of pounds have to be spent on overhauling the entire squad. The youth players who show promise can be promoted to the senior squad “ahead of schedule”. The spending can be restricted to key positions, such as a world-class centre-back and a fast, gifted, right-winger. But, any player who is not absolutely necessary to Solskjaer's plans is, by default, a liability and has to go.

The Norwegian has displayed good acumen as a manager in his short spell at United so far. The 1-3 win at PSG was a perfect example. But, on rare occasions, there has also been an inability to influence proceedings on the pitch as seen in 2-0 loss against Arsenal. Where United finishes this season remains to be seen, but a top-four finish should not be difficult from here, especially considering the positive reactions to his appointment as United's permanent manager. Former players such as Gary Neville and Rio Ferdinand took to the social media to express their happiness and extend their support to Solskjaer. The players will feed of this positivity for the remainder of this season. And then there is Paul Pogba, who has been, arguably, the second-best player in the world since the turn of the year; no prizes for guessing who is first.

Which brings us to the Champions League date with Barcelona. It is difficult. Maybe highly improbable. But it is not impossible to imagine United actually beating the Catalans. With this level of positivity and without the pressure of being favourites, Solskjaer's boys could actually pull it off. This is Manchester United after all. And, finally, there is a manager who understands the culture of the club. For now, Red Devil's fans around the globe (more than 300 million of them) can rejoice and hope for the best.