Media Impact on Mental Well-being: Solskjaer Opens Up on Players' Struggles

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reflecting on his time as Manchester United manager from December 2018 to November 2021 revealed that some players declined the captaincy for specific games, highlighting a lack of ambition and a different generation mentality. He also noted that certain players were reluctant to conduct post-match interviews due to concerns about potential questions.

Solskjaer acknowledged the impact of media criticism on players’ mental well-being stating that personal attacks go beyond tactical critiques. He admitted that signing Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t fit the team’s pressing style leading to challenges. Solskjaer defended his decision to make Harry Maguire captain, citing Bruno Fernandes’ excessive passion.

The manager acknowledged the difficulty of managing egos mentioning that player disappointments especially those left out of the squad could lead to information leaks. He attributed some issues to having too many players in the squad contributing to unhappiness.