Brandon Williams launched a passionate defense of the former boss of Manchester United, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, insisting that he should never have been dismissed and that he brought the real “DNA” of the club to Old Trafford.
In an interview on the Podcast Fozcast by Ben Foster, the former background of United also revealed that David de Gea always checked him regularly.
He also named Bruno Fernandes as “by a mile” the best player with whom he played.
Williams, now 24, came by the United’s Academy and received his first team debut by Solskjaer in 2019. He made 36 appearances during his breakthrough season and was considered one of the club’s most brilliant young stars.
“For me, it was probably the best in which I worked,” said Williams about the Besiktas Boss current Solskjaer, which was dismissed by United in November 2021 after 168 work games.
“Even off the field, talking to you, giving you advice, especially because I was also young – he was like a very good mentor. I don’t think he should have been dismissed, to be honest. I think he was going in the right direction.
Man United was wrong to dismiss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (left), said Brandon Williams (right)
Solskjaer was dismissed in 2021, two years after giving Williams its first team debut for United
Williams illustrated during an appearance on the Podcast Fozcast by Ben Foster earlier this week
“He knew the club, he knew what it was, he knew the club’s DNA. This is what was pushed to me since I was a young child … in Centraide. I felt like he brought it.
Williams revealed that it was the legend of United Patrice Evra who recommended it for the first time to Solskjaer. Evra worked with United U21 while studying for his coach badges and he said to the Norwegian: “You have to give this child a chance.”
This paved the way in Williams to become a regular element in the team during the 2019-20 season, but his career has since made a spectacular slowdown.
Released by United last summer after the expiration of a contract of £ 65,000 per week, Williams is currently without a club and awaiting conviction for a dangerous driving offense which could win him in prison up to two years.
He crushed his car at 99 MPH in Cheshire last August, just a few days before joining Ipswich Town on loan, with images that showed him with a ball in his mouth while he accompanies a young woman.
The court learned that his conduct was “erratic” and that his speed “strongly excessive”, the prosecutors saying that it was “lucky” that no one was seriously injured. He pleaded guilty last month and should be sentenced on May 9.
The accident was the last in a series of automotive offenses for Williams, which accumulated 30 penalty points and served two prohibitions to drive.
Despite his troubles, Williams says he received the support of former teammates, including former legendary goalkeeper United from Gea.
Williams made 51 first team appearances for Man United before being released last summer
He was arrested after a high -speed car accident in August 2023 and could still go to prison
Williams has not participated in a competition game since 2023, when he was ready in Ipswich
“He always sent me a message,” said Williams. “He always makes sure that I am good.
“Honestly, David is in the lead. It’s such a good guy … just his music! He likes rock music, proper. But it is so solid.
Williams was part of a cloakroom filled with talents in 2019, and he thinks that United made a mistake by dismantling this group too quickly – especially by going from players like Scott Mctuminay and Marcus Rashford.
“This team was of quality,” added Williams. “It was the foundation. You can build on this team … I think they got rid of too much of these players.
“Scott would have been a crucial part of this team at the moment. An appropriate spine of the team. I don’t really think I can name someone in this team right now, it’s like a Scott, like a Marcus.
Williams has reserved special praise for the midfielder ex-UNITED Paul Pogba, which has been out of service since 2023 after serving a prohibition for a doping offense, and the current skipper of the Red Devils Fernandes.
“I love Bruno”, radiated Williams. “Bruno is literally … he’s the best player I played with a mile.
“Like, when I say” played with “, I mean on a coherent base – like, I played a few games with him. Pogba is there like the best, as, in training and things like that – like, he can do everything – but I just played with Bruno Plus.
Williams revealed that former UNI goalkeeper David de Gea always checks him regularly
The former teammate of United, Bruno Fernandes (left) and Paul Pogba (right), illustrated in 2022
“ And Bruno, the way he behaves out of the field and on the field too – as, how he speaks to you … Everyone always moans him for having launched his hands, groaning the players – and like, it’s just him. This is how he puts his points to the players, and he is a very good leader.
On Pogba, Williams continued: “He has everything. If you were to build a midfielder, you build someone like him. Yeah, I am excited for him to be back and see how he gets along. It would have been a difficult period for him.
“I was actually absent in America – and it was about two years ago – and I told him. He just asked how I was and things like that.
“He is essentially Manchester – he was here from such an young age, he knows, and as he knows what type of people we are as Mancunians. Like, even with Jesse (Lingard) and with Marcus (Rashford) and everything, then he obtains this side of jokes and things like that. So I can talk to him at a serious level and to a Jokey level.
Williams has also thought about the strong culture of the underground cloakroom and the link between the team during their mandate, attributing this environment for helping young players to settle in the first team.
Williams joined United at the age of seven. He made 51 senior appearances for the club before leaving for free transfer.
His departure occurred four years after signing a contract worth more than 3 million pounds sterling per season.