I AM STILL A BABY-FACED ASSASSIN
Solskjaer’s belief is unshaken
The Manchester United boss says the criticism levelled at him during his team’s roller-coaster season never affected his belief that he is the right man for the job.
United were on the crest of an 11-game, unbeaten run when the coronavirus crisis caused a Premier League shutdown on Friday.
And Solskjaer’s role in taking the pressure off his players during the bad times was starting to reap its reward.
The Reds have cranked up their challenge for a top-four finish and put themselves on the brink of moving into the last 16 of the Europa League.
Solskjaer said: “I am confident enough in myself not to be p **** d off with the criticism – and not to worry about what anyone thinks.
“Why should I concern myself with that? And why should I start talking about myself ?
“That is just not me and I hope I will never get to that.
“I just want the players to be out there expressing themselves and playing football in the way we want. I have always been quietly confident, believed in myself, but never had to shout about it.”
Solskjaer was nicknamed the Baby-faced Assassin during his playing days with United.
And, when asked if that still stands, he added: “You can ask the players. I’m not going to talk about myself but, of course, you have to put someone in their place once in a while.
“I am level-headed enough to know when we’ve played well.
“I was the same as a player. If someone told me I was brilliant when I was s**t, I knew I was s**t.
“I don’t have to listen to so-called friends to tell me if I have done well or if I was bad. It’s the same with the team, I know when they have played well.
“And, if someone praises us when we’ve not done well, I am quick enough to say, ‘No, that wasn’t good enough’.”
Proof of how Solskjaer wants to improve is his assessment of last weekend’s Manchester derby victory over City.
The United boss has outflanked Pep Guardiola three times this season – and the latest 2-0 win came despite his team having less than 28 per cent possession.
He has promised Old Trafford fans it won’t always be like that.
Solskjaer added: “I am always going to be demanding that, when we’ve got the ball, we will try to make the most of it.
“Pass forward, run forward – I want us to be that type of team.
“City made it hard for us. If they had let us have 70 per cent possession, then I’d have taken it.
“City won’t let you do that, but there are loads of other teams who will let you have 70 per cent possession. “So we are getting players in that can play that style as well. We are always going to try to evolve and be better and better.
“I’d like my team to have control of the game, but you also have to be able to attack quickly when you have the ball.
“I always believe in forward passes, penetrative passes, wide play and getting crosses into the box.
“Every player I’ve had, if you ask them, will tell you the same – that it’s about passing forward and running forward.”
SERGE AURIER reckons suspending the Premier League was a better option than fulfilling fixtures behind closed doors.
The maverick Tottenham star and his pals were due to welcome boss Jose Mourinho’s former club Manchester United today.
But the game will now be rearranged with the rest of this weekend’s top-flight fixtures after the coronavirus pandemic forced a shutdown of English football until April 3 at the earliest.
The Ivory Coast international said: “It is a difficult moment because everyone wants to play in front of fans.
“We play football for those moments, but we must protect everyone because this virus is very dangerous.
“It is not good to play when you go to the stadium and don’t have the support of the fans.”
Paris Saint-germain played their Champions League game against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday behind closed doors.
And former PSG rightback Aurier added: “It is not the same feeling.
“When Neymar scored, you see no one and, for us, seeing the fans is the best, it is another motivation to win this game.
“We play football for these moments.
“So, of course, I’d rather matches were postponed than not in front of fans.
“The fans buy tickets for every game – and when you are in a bad situation, you need the support.
“And at the moment we need a lot of support.”
Perhaps the enforced break will have come at a good time for Mourinho and his men.
They are without a win in six matches in all competitions, with four losses in that period,