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Multiple reports in the British media have suggested that the Norwegian manager could be fired if United fail to beat Everton in the Premier League next weekend.
However, that process may well be accelerated after a comical defensive performance against the reigning Turkish champion.
One of the worst defenders he has ever seen, amateur football included, gave Basaksehir an early lead as former Premier League striker Demba Ba had the entire half of the field to himself just to run to the ball and pass. Dean Henderson, United goalkeeper.
Things didn’t improve much from there as Deniz Turuc grabbed Juan Mata’s pocket and dropped the ball on a plate for Edin Visca to double the lead.
Anthony Martial pushed back a goal just before half-time, but a dull and uninspired second-half performance meant United couldn’t find an equalizer.
The Champions League has given Manchester United a respite from their Premier League woes in recent weeks, but for the first time this season their poor domestic form seeped into Europe.
United is a modest 15th in the Premier League with just wins in its first six games after Sunday’s bland 1-0 loss to Arsenal.
But impressive Champions League victories against last season’s defeated finalist Paris Saint-Germain and German RB Leipzig have provided Solskjaer with something of a lifesaver.
However, if the 47-year-old is out of work, as seems increasingly likely, it is unlikely that a new manager will be enough to turn the club around.
United has problems that run deep; In the Glazer family he has an owner who has accumulated enormous amounts of debt; and in Ed Woodward you have a CEO who has spent large sums of money on a gaming team that remains light years ahead of its rivals.
Solskjaer’s reign has been more curious than most. Just when it seems like his job is at stake and the team has stopped playing for him, his players will put on the kind of performances they did against Newcastle, PSG and Leipzig.
But in the loss to Basaksehir, there was not even a hint that the team was playing for their coach.
Solskjaer may still have a job when United travel to Everton on Sunday, but another loss could likely spell the end of his time in charge.
