Pool unlikely to repeat Sir Alex dominance: Ole

OLE Gunnar Solskjaer has admitted that it hurt to see bitter rivals Liverpool end their long wait for a league title, but the Manchester United manager believes it will be tough for them to match Sir Alex Ferguson’s period of prolonged success.

After 30 topsy-turvy years at Anfield, the Reds finally secured the league crown once again after nearest challengers — and reigning Premier League champions — Manchester City lost 2-1 at Chelsea on Thursday evening.

Liverpool’s 19th title triumph sparked wild celebrations, leaving them one behind United’s record haul that has not been added to since Ferguson retired as champion in 2013.

“First of all, any team that wins the Championship and a Premier League deserve it and they deserve credit,” Solskjaer, a multiple league winner as a United player, said.

“It’s a hard league to win, so well done to Jurgen (Klopp) and his players. For me, every time you see anyone else lift the trophy it hurts. I reckon that’s the feeling of everyone associated with Man United — all players, staff and supporters.

“Of course we want to get back to winning ways and that’s our challenge.”

United, who take on Norwich City in the FA Cup tonight, are on an impressive 13-match unbeaten run in all competitions but sit fifth in the Premier League and an eye-popping 37 points behind Liverpool — a remarkable campaign after such a long wait for the title.

United had to wait 26 years for a title before winning 13 under Ferguson, but, as another season without a title challenge at Old Trafford goes by, Solskjaer finds it hard to believe Klopp can do similar.

“The run of titles that we won under Sir Alex, I don’t think that’s going to be easy for anyone to emulate and to copy,” he said.

“Sir Alex was a master of staying at the top, so, for me, our challenge is to make sure it doesn’t go, say, 26 years until the next time we win it or even more.

“We’re going to do everything we can to shorten the distance or go past them of course.”

Former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, Klopp’s predecessor, almost won the title in the 2013-14 season.

He paid tribute to the German and the club’s owners Fenway Sports group.

“It’s an incredible moment in history,” he said. “We obviously went very close in my time there although the club was in a different moment.

“I am delighted for Jurgen, he has done a brilliant job, particularly in these last couple of years.

“I’m also pleased for the ownership. FSG came into football new. They have developed and learned everything about the game in England.

“They are fantastic owners and deserve that success as well.”

Meanwhile, Norwich boss Daniel Farke (left) is keen not to have the spectre of Premier League relegation hanging over their FA Cup quarter-final clash.

The Canaries host 12time FA Cup winners United having reached the last-eight of the competition for the first time in 28 years. Norwich’s form in the tournament has been in stark contrast to their league form and, having lost their first two games back since the restart, they sit bottom and six points from safety.

Farke wants to keep their FA Cup run separate.

“The results have been disappointing, we wanted to take points sooner rather than later,” he said. “But this is a different competition, this weekend we are just concentrating on the cup, it is our only topic.”

“We don’t think about that (the top four). There’s no race for anything, the race is to compete, improve and have good games. This is the challenge for every team in this moment.

“I’m very proud of the work we have been doing. We have begun to build something, we did the right things and we are still in a building process.

“We have achieved important and remarkable things but still have a long way to go, there is still a lot of room to improve.

“When we started we didn’t know what was in front of us but had a fantastic club to take care of and try to become as huge as it was in its past history.

“I expect Villa to be very difficult because they have good players.”