Barcelona have taught Manchester United a lesson about their next manager

Last November, two of the greatest sides in world football found themselves in pretty similar situations as they searched for a new manager to address a dire start to the new season.

At the end of the month, Manchester United finally pulled the trigger on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after their dismal defeat to Watford. Michael Carrick came in as caretaker before Ralf Rangnick arrived to replace him as interim until the end of the season.

By that time, Xavi was already weeks into his new role as Barcelona head coach, having arrived at the start of November to steady the sinking ship that had been left by Ronald Koeman.

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The fact Barcelona acted before the international break while United waited an extra two weeks already highlights a key difference between the ways in which both clubs are run, and the different levels of demands placed on them.

Barcelona were clear about what needed to change as they sacked Koeman and quickly went about identifying club legend Xavi as their number one choice for the managerial post. The blind faith in their former midfielder was a huge risk, which is looking like it will pay off. But crucially, it was still a swift decision that needed to be made.

By contrast, United remained unsure of what to do and had no plan whatsoever when they finally sacked Solskjaer, stumbling their way through the next days and weeks before they finally identified Rangnick as a short-term solution.

With no clear long-term plan, it did at least make sense to only give Rangnick the job until the end of the season, but there remains uncertainty about what his precise role will be at the end of it, and doubts about how much power he will