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Tag: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

  • EPL: Solskjaer deserves Man Utd job – Pogba

    EPL: Solskjaer deserves Man Utd job – Pogba

    Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has said interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer deserves the club full-time coaching role after restoring confidence and freedom the team lacked towards the end of Jose Mourinho’s tenure

    Solskjaer has helped them to win 10 out of the 13 English Premier League (EPL) games since his appointment and to also reach the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

    “We want him to stay. The results have been great. I have a great relationship with him, he has a great relationship with the players,” Pogba said.

    “When a player is happy, he wants to keep being happy. Solskjaer deserves it. He knows the club, he knows everything about the club. He is a really happy coach that gave confidence back to the players.

    “This gave us the freedom to play and enjoy football again because maybe we lost that with the results we had before.”

    In spite of winning the 2018 FIFA World Cup with France, Pogba struggled for form under Mourinho who benched him.

    But the 26-year-old is back to his best under Solskjaer with nine goals and seven assists in all competitions.

    “Maybe we lost confidence, maybe things went wrong. A lot of talking outside that we weren’t used to,” Pogba said, reflecting on the final part of Mourinho’s tenure.

    “I don’t like to talk about the past. I like to talk about the future because that’s what matters. We’re better now and the results have been brilliant.”

    Manchester United are fifth in the EPL with 58 points from 30 matches and within three points of third-placed Tottenham Hotspur.

    They take on FC Barcelona in the last eight round of the UEFA Champions League in April.

  • Man Utd’s defeat to Arsenal is lowest moment – Solskjaer

    Man Utd’s defeat to Arsenal is lowest moment – Solskjaer

    Manchester United’s first Premier League loss under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the “lowest” moment since he took charge, the interim manager said.

    Solskjaer has turned the team’s form around since taking over in December, following the sacking of Jose Mourinho.

    The Norwegian has overseen a run of 10 league wins and two draws before suffering defeat at Arsenal on Sunday.

    Solskjaer told BBC Sport: “The performance was good but the result was disappointing.”

    The former striker has brought a feel-good factor back to United with results that mean they are in the fight for a Champions League spot at the end of the season, as well as reaching the quarter-finals in Europe and the FA Cup.

    Such has been the turnaround there have been growing calls from players and supporters to give Solskjaer the job on a permanent basis.

    Going into the fixture at Emirates Stadium, United were in fourth place having been 11 points adrift of the position when Mourinho was dismissed on 18 December.

    But their 2-0 loss allowed Arsenal to jump above them in the league, courtesy of goals from Granit Xhaka and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

    Solskjaer said: “We are disappointed with the result but looking at the performance, you cannot say it was a game we deserved to lose. We created five big chances, hit the woodwork twice.

    “When you see the boys work as hard as they do, the attitude they show in training – today we were lethargic in the first 10-15 minutes, did not have the zip and we did not take the chances. Hopefully we will be ready for Wolves in the FA Cup next week.

    “It has been fantastic so far but today is the the lowest we have been because we lost and missed the chance to put pressure on Spurs.

    “We have won games we have not deserved to win, and today we lost a game we did not deserve to lose.”

  • I’m learning a lot under Solskjaer, says Lukaku

    Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku says he is learning a lot under interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer since his arrival at Old Trafford.

    Lukaku scored twice as Manchester United sealed a club-record eighth consecutive away win with a 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace.

    He said: “If you look at my career I’ve always had good strikers helping me, so now I’m here with Ole I’m learning a lot, and every day is another day to learn, another day to improve.

    “I’m happy with my goals, happy with my performance, but I’m happy with the win. It was really important for us to win, if you look at the other teams’ results.

    “We did what we had to do and now we have to keep going.”

    The striker says their record eight away wins in a row is something the squad should be immensely proud of.

    “It was a really good achievement if you look at the teams we played against. Everybody was doubting us but we responded in the way that Manchester United always should respond – by winning games and dominating.

    “It’s always ‘next game, next game’. We don’t want to be like a couple of teams talking about things and not achieving; we want to do it game after game. The desire to improve and win games.”

    The Belgian has become one of the top 20 all-time Premier League goalscorers after his second goal against Crystal Palace, which was his 111th goal in the Premier League.

    It means he is now level with former United player Dion Dublin in joint-20th place, and needs two more goals to move above former Arsenal striker Ian Wright into 19th.

  • EPL: There is no one like Pogba, says Solskjaer

    EPL: There is no one like Pogba, says Solskjaer

    Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says playmaker Paul Pogba is in a class of his own in world football when it comes to attacking midfielders.

    Club record signing Pogba is one of a number of Manchester United players who has been revitalised under caretaker boss Solskjaer.

    Apparently disaffected under Jose Mourinho, Pogba has been a dynamic presence under the new man at the helm, who is looking forward to unleashing him against Liverpool on Sunday.

    Asked how Pogba compares to other players of his type, Solskjaer said: “There are different types of midfielders but, in his mould, I don’t think there is anyone near – with his physical presence, he can score goals, his close technique.

    “He can also spray passes when he is sitting in midfield – I don’t think that is his best position, but he can do that as well.”

    When it was suggested to Solskjaer that in Pogba and England forward Marcus Rashford he has two players to build around, he said: “They are young enough to stay here for many years, you hope.

    “But you have (Nemanja) Matic and (Ander) Herrera that makes Paul’s job the one it is – you have to complement each other.

  • EPL: Solskjaer has a nasty side, says Man Utd defender

    EPL: Solskjaer has a nasty side, says Man Utd defender

    Manchester United defender Chris Smalling has said Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has a nasty side, despite the interim manager’s revival of the team to top form.

    United won 10 and drew one of their first 11 games after the former striker succeeded Jose Mourinho in December, with his unbeaten run coming to an end against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday.

    Solskjaer has won praise both for improving United’s standard on the pitch and for lifting the morale around Old Trafford following a tough final few months under Mourinho.

    But while Smalling says he is “a joy to play under”, he claims Solskjaer is not afraid to use a stricter approach when needed.

    “I think he has got that sort of nasty side,” Smalling told MUTV. “I think every manager has that, the so-called hairdryer treatment when things need a little turnaround. A manager has to have all different sides covered. He’s a joy to play under and he’s great.”

    United face Chelsea in the FA Cup on Monday knowing that the competition represents their best chance of ending the season with silverware.

  • Man Utd will not panic after Champions League defeat – Solskjaer

    Manchester United interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says the Red Devils will not panic after suffering their first defeat under his reign at Old Trafford.

    United won 10 and drew one of Solskjaer’s first 11 games in charge before a 2-0 defeat by Paris St-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday.

    Solskjaer, whose side visit Chelsea in the FA Cup on Monday, says the loss will not change United’s mindset.

    “We still want to impose ourselves on games,” said Solskjaer.

    “You don’t panic because you have lost a game – it doesn’t change the mindset. We need to keep working on the way we want to play.”

    United lost Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial to first-half injuries against PSG in the last-16 first-leg defeat at Old Trafford.

    Solskjaer says the pair will be out for between two and three weeks, meaning they will miss the visit of Premier League title challengers Liverpool next Sunday.

    The Norwegian, 45, admitted French champions PSG’s approach to Tuesday’s game was not what he had been expecting, but said matches were decided by individuals rather than tactics.

    “Every opponent gives you a tactical challenge but you try and solve them and create problems with your own tactics,” he said.

    “Against PSG they came differently than what they’ve done before but games are mostly decided by individual skills not tactics.”

  • Champions League defeat was a reality check – solskjaer

    Manchester United interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has tagged the Red Devil’s 2-0 home loss to Paris St-Germain in the last 16 of the Champions League a “reality check” but insisted “mountains are there to be climbed”.

    Former United winger Angel di Maria provided the assists for goals scored by Presnel Kimpembe and Kylian Mbappe.

    Solskjaer told BT Sport: “You can’t lay down and say it’s over.”

    United midfielder Paul Pogba was sent off in the last minute of normal time for a second bookable offence.

    This was Solskjaer’s first defeat as interim boss after winning 10 of his first 11 games since taking over from Jose Mourinho in December.

    “Today was a kind of a reality check on the level of the top teams,” he added.

    “That is the level we want to get to. Top four is one thing. United should be at the top. They are a top team. [Our players] know we need to step up our level. We are disappointed.”

    Neither side impressed in the first half, which ended on a negative note for Solskjaer when attacking duo Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial came off injured.

    “We had quality players come on, but they gave us something and let’s hope they are not too serious,” he said about the pair. “They are muscle injuries; we have to wait a couple of days.”

  • Solskjaer face first defeat in Champions League clash

    Solskjaer face first defeat in Champions League clash

    Manchester United caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer encountered his first defeat since taking over from Jose Mourinho to an attacking Paris Saint-Germain team in Champions League tie at Old Trafford.

    Second half goals from Presnel Kimpembe and Kylian Mbappe secured victory for the French champions, with Paul Pogba sent off for two yellow cards late on.

    United’s revival with 10 wins in 11 games under Solskjaer raised hopes that this was the night they could reclaim their place in Europe’s elite.

    Instead, they were outclassed by PSG to suffer their first European home defeat by a margin of more than one goal and will now need to produce something remarkable in Paris on 6 March to stand a chance of advancing to the Champions League quarter-finals.

  • Anthony Martial can emulate Ronaldo, says Solskjaer

    Anthony Martial can emulate Ronaldo, says Solskjaer

    Anthony Martial has the ability to emulate Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United, according to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

    Martial became the most expensive teenager in history when he moved to Old Trafford from Monaco in 2015 and he has largely impressed during his time at the club, scoring 47 goals in 164 appearances, Sky Sport reports.

    However, the France international looked set to leave in the summer after falling out with Jose Mourinho earlier this season, but he fought his way back into the Portuguese’s plans before signing a new long-term deal last month under Solskjaer.

    The 23-year-old marked his first start since that contract with an assist and a superb goal in the 3-0 win against Fulham, where his fine solo effort led ex-United captain Gary Neville to compare it to a Ronaldo effort at Craven Cottage in 2007.

    “Yes, it was towards the end of the game and we played a very poor game and Cristiano scored it,” Solskjaer said of his former team-mate’s goal.

    “He [Martial] does have similarities, of course. If he wants to be at Cristiano’s level, Anthony knows what he has to do. It’s up to him. He has the talent.”

    Martial has scored nine goals in the Premier League already this season, two short of the total he managed in his debut season at the club, and Solskjaer believes the forward belongs at Old Trafford.

    “I am glad he is in my team,” the Norwegian added. “He has contributed to so many chances, so many goals.

    “He is a Manchester United player. He excites the crowd. He excites the manager. He excites his team-mates. And he is a great character around the place.”

  • Mourinho’s successor, Gunnar Solskjaer crowned EPL manager of the month

    Mourinho’s successor, Gunnar Solskjaer crowned EPL manager of the month

    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been crowned Premier League manager of the month, becoming the first person in the Manchester United dugout to win the award since Sir Alex Ferguson.

    The 1999 treble hero has won nine of his first 10 matches in charge in all competitions, with United securing 10 of the 12 Premier League points available last month.

    That fine form saw him named January’s Barclays manager of the month ahead of Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl and Burnley’s Sean Dyche.

    It is the first time that a United manager has won the award since Ferguson in October 2012 – his final season and one that ended with the Premier League crown.

    Solskjaer celebrated his prize with his entire coaching team and posed for a photo with them while holding the award.