Solskjaer promises a clean slate
SWEET GESTURE: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gave receptionist Kath Phipps, who has worked for United since 1967, a bar of Norwegian chocolate when he arrived for his first day as interim manager and I’ve been relegated. It’s about man-management. It’s about managing players, staff and it’s about getting the best out of everyone.
“The boss [Ferguson] will always be the best at that. I get my managerial style from him.
“He has been the biggest influence, but then again we’re different. I’m a different personality. I like to speak to people, I like to engage with people. I want to see people express themselves. That makes me happy.”
Solskjaer, who has promised fans he will give his all to succeed, says it is crucial he restores some pride in the team and also get back the club’s famous DNA of attacking football.
He said: “When I scored on my debut, Eric Cantona was there and it was a brilliant feeling.
“You felt comfortable at Old Trafford and you want the players to feel at home there too. It’s about the players being proud of their performance – and the fans being proud of their team.
“I’m proud of my career as a player. I understand this club, I know the club. Being in the gaffer’s seat is very special.
“It’s great to be back home. I promise I’ll give everything I’ve got to get this club back to success and I can’t wait to get going. The first thing I noticed was that it’s a family club. Everyone is so tight-knit. And then I noticed the winning mentality.
“Attacking football, giving youth a chance and winning. It’s the biggest club in the world with the best supporters in the world and the best players in the world.”
Solskjaer took his first training session yesterday at Carrington following a meeting with his assistant Michael Carrick, above.
He has spoken to most members of the squad on an individual basis and has promised the likes of Paul Pogba, Fred and Anthony Martial that they will all start with a clean slate.
He added: “Everyone will get a chance. Everyone starts with a clean slate. You’ve got to start somewhere. I’ve seen the last few games. You pick a team now and you move on.
“It seems like a great set of lads, professional, wanting to do well and learn. But I’ll take time getting to know them. We’ve got a great set-up. The analysts were watching Cardiff this morning. I’ve seen the teams, I watch the Premier League.
“It’s about us, though, not the opposition. We want to see the players express themselves.
“Our main focus is us, the opposition comes later.” DS: SF: THE man-management skills of Mauricio Pochettino have been revealed by Danny Rose, giving an insight into how Paul Pogba and his Manchester United team-mates could thrive with the Argentinian as their boss.
The interim appointment of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old Trafford until the summer has paved the way for an attempt to prise Pochettino away from Tottenham once the season had ended.
But while club officials refused to let Rose answer questions about the speculation surrounding the Spurs manager, the picture he painted over his own handling will be seen enviously at a club where morale is at a low ebb. Significantly, Rose was wearing the captain’s
armband for Wednesday REPORTS
night’s 2-0 Carabao Cup against Arsenal.
It is just 16 months since the England international went public on the eve of the season about Tottenham’s lack of ambition in the transfer market in an outspoken attack that could have undermined morale completely.
Slowly, however, Pochettino appears to have won him back round in a series of clear-theair talks, culminating in two long discussions on the eve of this campaign.
“It was a very proud moment for myself to be captain, especially because we won,” said Rose.
“If I look back at where I was a year ago, I wasn’t playing too often. Now I have played three games in a week, we drew with win