Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney believes most of the staff at the club were unhappy with Jose Mourinho at the helm.
The Portuguese boss was given the boot earlier this week following a torrid start to the season which leaves United teetering in sixth place and some way off the Champions League spots. Rooney believes that Solskjaer is the man to change the toxic atmosphere at Old Trafford. He told BT Sport: ‘[It was] not just the players, but the whole football club.
‘I’m sure Ed Woodward was the same, the staff, the kitchen ladies, the kit men weren’t enjoying it. Ole’s the person [to help] straight away and I know they’re happy.’
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was appointed as Mourinho’s successor on an interim basis and takes charge of the team for the first time against his former club Cardiff. The Norwegian has already transformed the oppressive atmosphere of Mourinho’s final months at the helm in his first few days in the job.
Paul Pogba, who had a toxic relationship with Mourinho, is one of the players who has been the beneficiary of Solskjaer’s arrival with the United manager immediately restoring him to the team for Saturday’s match. Rooney believes it is important to get the players back enjoying their football and has backed Solskjaer to get them firing again.
He added: ‘To be a successful football club, you need everything to be right, to be happy. That rubs off on the players. The relationships between some of the staff and the players weren’t great. ‘But the players are smiling again. It’s a good move for the club, and it’ll be fascinating to see how Ole sets the team up and how they play.’
