Solskjaer’s tactics are the same as Mourinho’s – Van Gaal

Solskjaer has revitalised United’s form and morale since taking over on a caretaker basis following Mourinho’s departure in December.

The former Manchester United manager, Louis van Gaal, has claimed that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s tactics and that of Jose Mourinho is the same.

Although consecutive defeats to Arsenal in the Premier League and Wolves in the FA Cup have dented their campaign, United have got themselves back into the top-four race and are in the quarter-finals of the Champions League under their former striker.

Van Gaal – who managed the club between 2014 and 2016 – believes Ole is guilty of tactics every bit as negative as Mourinho’s.

“The coach after me [Mourinho] changed to park-the-bus tactics and played on the counter,” he told BBC Sport.

“Now there is another coach who parks the bus and plays on the counter. The main difference between Mourinho and Solskjaer is that Solskjaer is winning.

“I am not there but there does look to be a change and the atmosphere seems to be better. It is also true that Solskjaer has changed Paul Pogba’s position and put him into an area where he is much more important.

“But the way Manchester United are playing now is not the way Ferguson played. It is defensive, counter-attacking football. If you like it, you like it. If you think it is more exciting than my boring attacking, OK. But it is not my truth.

“Solskjaer has just lost twice and he has to manage that. It is very important that Manchester United qualifies for the Champions League, as it was when I was manager.

“But they can also win the Champions League because they play a defensive system and it is very difficult to beat them, which, whether you like it or not, is the result of Mourinho’s work.”