GET ME THE JOB
Solskjaer knows players and results are key to Old Trafford future
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER has told the Manchester United players who have done him proud that his future rests in their hands.
The 45-year-old Norwegian believes he can continue in his dream job as United boss beyond the end of the season after starting his reign with eight victories and a draw.
Solskjaer bristles at the suggestion that he is not a big enough name to be United’s manager on a permanent basis.
And he revealed that he is already working on plans for next year – including transfer targets.
Solskjaer said: “This job is like a wheel spinning round.
“I have to make the players perform better. If I can get the team playing better, get the players to respond to me, see the results get better and show that the playing style is there, then that will be a big plus for me.
“But this has never been all about me. I’m not here to talk about myself and other so-called bigname managers.
“What is a big name? For me, it’s about how you work with the players and work with the club.
“If I had set myself targets in terms of results, I think that would have been the wrong process.
“When I came in, it was about talking to the players about their performances and what we expect from the playing style.
“I knew that if we could get the playing style right, we would get enough points to be in with a shout of the top four towards the end of the season.”
As Sunday Mirror Sport revealed last week, United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is committed to a process of identifying a number of managerial candidates.
And Tottenham’s Mauricio Pochettino has strong support in the Old Trafford boardroom.
But if United win the Champions League or finish in the top four, then Solskjaer’s bid for the job will look unstoppable.
His impact off the pitch has also been impressive.
Anthony Martial has committed himself to a new, five-year contract and talks are continuing for David de Gea to do the same.
The midweek departure of Marouane Fellaini to Chinese club Shandong Luneng was also ratified by the interim boss.
And, after revealing he is involved in planning for next season, Solskjaer insisted he is his own man by outlining exactly what role Sir Alex Ferguson is playing behind the scenes.
Solskjaer said: “I think it’s quite natural that whoever is in charge and involved with the players already here has a voice in that [planning].
“I have got to know the players, what potential they have, how far away they are from reaching that, and who we can build a team on.
“So, of course, I put my views into the club. I knew that, if the club had targets for the transfer window, they would have discussed them with me.
“It comes down to playing style, how we want to look in one or two years’ time, what kind of players and personalities we look for.
“It’s about finding players with the right Manchester United identity and DNA.”
He added: “I think it [Ferguson’s role] has been overblown a bit. He has been to the training ground a couple of times and I make sure I visit him after every game in his lounge at Old Trafford.
“But I don’t speak to him every single day and we don’t even speak every week on the phone.
“It has just been a case of us bumping into each other at the stadium.”