Solskjær backs himself at Besiktas despite European failure

Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s future at Beşiktaş has come under serious scrutiny after his side failed to advance in the Europa League, suffering a disappointing elimination at the hands of Shakhtar Donetsk. The Ukrainian outfit had already claimed a 4-2 victory in the first leg in Türkiye and followed that up with a commanding 2-0 win on home soil to knock Beşiktaş out of the competition.

Prior to the second leg, speculation had already begun to mount regarding Solskjær’s position, with reports suggesting that the match would be decisive in determining whether he remained in charge. The club’s pre-season preparations have fallen short of expectations, and there was pressure on the manager to deliver European progress to set a positive tone for the new campaign.

Beşiktaş Fall Short Despite Pressure to Respond
With qualification on the line, Solskjær was tasked with inspiring a turnaround in the return fixture. However, Beşiktaş were again second best as Shakhtar extended their lead with two further goals, sealing the tie and leaving the Turkish side with no path forward in the competition.

The result marked a bitterly disappointing night for Solskjær, whose side were unable to correct the mistakes of the first leg. The outcome has only intensified the pressure on the former Manchester United manager, although there remains a potential lifeline in the form of the Europa Conference League, where Beşiktaş could still participate in the league phase.

Solskjær Insists He Is Committed to the Project
Despite the setback, Solskjær remains confident in his ability to lead the team forward. As quoted by Dagbladet, he stated:

“We have just started this season and we are continuing in another tournament (Conference League). I believe that I am the right person for this project in terms of the future. There is no problem in continuing. In the last 4-5 years, Beşiktaş has gone through difficult periods. What we need is stability.”

His comments suggest a determination to stay the course and guide Beşiktaş through what he recognises as a transitional phase. Whether the club’s hierarchy shares that belief remains to be seen, but the pressure is undoubtedly mounting as expectations for European success remain high.