I’m right man four this job says Ole

MANCHESTER UNITED secured their place back in the Champions League as manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer claimed it vindicated him – and proves he is the right man to lead them.

United finish third after a final day of the season victory which left their top-four rivals Leicester in fifth.

Solskjaer, right, who was put in charge permanently in March last year having been the caretaker, said: “All the predictions were about sixth or seventh, so that is all right.

“If I am getting criticised, that makes me stronger and believe more in what I am doing.

“I was reading through some of the predictions a few days ago.

“Third with this team, with the rebuild, has been a massive achievement by everyone. But next season we want to move up the table so we can’t

take our eye off it. Next season will be even more testing and challenging with games in the Champions League too.

“It has been a massive achievement. I believe in what I have been doing.

“I do it my way and that is the only way I can do it.

“The players have bought into this, we have come so far as a team, we are building a culture. I am very proud of all their efforts and pleased.”

United triumphed through Bruno Fernandes’ 71st-minute penalty and Jesse Lingard’s injurytime strike.

Fernandes’ goal was his 10th of the season in all competitions after joining in January from Sporting Lisbon for £67million.

Solskjaer added: “He has been been scoring goals and creating goals. He has stepped up, calm as you like, and slotted away the penalty.” Injury-hit Leicester ended up fifth and in the Europa League despite being in the top four for much of the season.

They suffered after winning just two of their past nine league games.

And they had former United defender Jonny Evans sent off in stoppage time for a late lunge on

Scott McTominay.

The hosts fell behind when Anthony Martial was sandwiched by Wes Morgan and Evans and Fernandes scored.

United sealed victory seconds from time when sub Lingard robbed Kasper Schmeichel and rolled the ball in.

Foxes top scorer Jamie Vardy, below, won the Golden Boot with 23 goals but the striker admitted missing out on the top four was “hard to take”.

Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers said: “Since the day I walked through the door he has been brilliant, a real talisman for the team.

“He knows he couldn’t have done it without the team but they know we wouldn’t be where we are without that quality.

“He thoroughly deserves it, to get 23 goals and to finish ahead of some of the world-class strikers shows how well he has done.”

Rodgers said of his team: “We finished in the second-highest league position in the club’s Premier League history. “It takes us into Europe and I’m really excited by that.

“It’s that next step for this squad. We’ve arrived a bit earlier than what we thought but the boys have had a very good season.”