The idea that United don’t need Conte is just bizarre

OLE Gunnar Solskjaer’s job is not to lift the mood at Old Trafford. Not after 1,041 days. The claims of success that are made on his behalf are long outdated.

If the Manchester United job was just about getting everyone smiling, employ a comedian. Do your own jokes at this point, because you know you want to.

What Manchester United need is a manager, a coach, a leader. Someone who might not necessarily call Sir Alex Ferguson ‘boss’, or be immersed in the modern history of the place — and it is only modern history because before the advent of the Premier League Manchester United’s last title came in 1967 — but might win trophies, win titles and improve players.

Solskjaer’s champions still cite last season’s second place but Liverpool had their best central midfielders, Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, at centre half for most of it.

Chelsea were in one of their many years of transition yet somehow became the champions of Europe.

Would Manchester United have finished runners-up against a fit Virgil van Dijk, or with Thomas Tuchel at Stamford Bridge for 38 matches? The idea that Manchester United do not need a figure like Antonio Conte to shape this squad into one that competes is so obtuse and contrary it borders on the wilful.

Yes, Solskjaer seems a good, straight guy. Yes, a lot of his former teammates are still his friends and would rather support and encourage than criticise. We understand their conflicts. There comes a time, however, when the evidence is overwhelming.

No, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho did not transform Manchester United into title winners — although, between them, they did win the club’s only trophies of the post Ferguson era — but that doesn’t mean the board should give up on experience, on track records, on course and distance. Manchester United need a proven, elite coach of substance, to work with proven, elite players. It is said Manchester United would not have a single inclusion in a combined XI with Liverpool but that isn’t strictly true. The Harry Maguire of England might get picked; the Paul Pogba (below) of France; the Bruno Fernandes who arrived from Sporting Lisbon last year. But not now. And Jurgen Klopp knows what Cristiano Ronaldo could have brought Manchester United. After his signing, asked whether he was happy Ronaldo had joined United and not Manchester City, he admitted: ‘No, I cannot say that.’ The inference was clear. Any side with Ronaldo is immediately more of a threat. United now need someone to make that a reality. Past experiences with Mourinho and Van Gaal are irrelevant. United need better direction than they are getting now.

Other clubs understand this. Roman Abramovich appointed a World Cup winner in Luiz Felipe Scolari, supposedly the brightest young coach in Europe in Andre Villas-Boas and, in Maurizio Sarri, a man who, according to Pep Guardiola, played the best football in Europe.

None of them quite worked out. That didn’t mean he gave up on the idea of a transformative but possibly high-maintenance coach. He sacked Frank Lampard and brought in Tuchel. He didn’t opt for a quiet life.

He didn’t prioritise a cheery mood over performance.

The fans loved Lampard, they still love singing his name but they loved winning the Champions League as much, if not more.

It was terribly harsh what happened at Chelsea last season. Lampard remains a huge part of the recent success because he placed trust in young players like Mason Mount and Reece James.

Yet top of the league, champions of Europe, it is impossible to argue against Tuchel’s appointment now. It is increasingly hard to make the case for Manchester United progressing under Solskjaer. Nobody there is currently going forward. Aaron Wan-Bissaka does not look a better player than he was at Crystal Palace, nor Maguire at Leicester. Pogba is much better for