Ole Gunnar Solskjaer holds “crisis talks” with six Man Utd players

Solskjaer is desperate to turn United's season around - and save his job

The international break is over and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is *still* manager of Manchester United. Humiliating home defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City have not been enough to convince the decision-makers at Old Trafford to wield the axe, with Solskjaer set to take charge of the team in their return to league action at Watford this weekend. The Norwegian does, however, appear to be aware of the precarious position he is in, and reportedly held crisis talks with six of his senior players this week in a bid to turn United's season around. According to the Daily Mail, a 10am meeting was held at United's training complex on Thursday, in which captain Harry Maguire, Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw and Nemanja Matic were spoken to. The report claims Solskjaer discussed United's tactical approach, having opted to play three at the back in recent outings. United enter another crucial period of their season. They currently sit sixth in the Premier League - five points adrift of the top four - with games against Chelsea and Arsenal, who are both above them in the table, on the horizon. They are also yet to qualify for the knock-out phase of the Champions League, with a potentially tough assignment away to Villarreal looming next Tuesday. United were strongly linked with Antonio Conte after their loss to Liverpool, only for the Italian to be appointed as the new Tottenham boss days after Solskjaer's side beat them 3-0. Brendan Rodgers, Zinedine Zidane, Mauricio Pochettino and Erik Ten Hag have also been named as potential replacements, but all appear far from straightforward appointments as the season approaches its midway point. Only Zidane is currently without a club, but is thought to hold reservations about a move to England. Related links:

• Man Utd ‘working to persuade’ Zinédine Zidane to succeed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
• Solskjaer’s attempts to convert Jadon Sancho into a wing-back is ‘almost a sackable offence’, claims Mills
• Man Utd poised to trigger Brendan Rodgers clause if Solskjaer is sacked