Ronaldo is the biggest problem for Man Utd's next manager

United's squad has been expensively assembled, but it lacks coherence and whoever is appointed will have to face that first of all – and that means sales as well as signings.

WHAT'S GOING ON? Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes dejected after Watford's second goal at Vicarage Road

So, what next? Ole Gunnar Solskjær has gone, and with him perhaps Manchester United’s most visible problem, but a sentimental appointment wasn’t the only issue holding the club back. United are institutionally dysfunctional and it will take more than a change of personnel in the dugout to change that.

Solskjær was a fine appointment as caretaker, perhaps the last good decision Ed Woodward made as United CEO. The return of a popular club legend, the sunshine man whose rays of decency could dispel the acrimony of the latter days of José Mourinho’s reign, made sense. The problem was that rather than waiting until his short-term contract expired, Woodward gave him the job on a permanent basis.