Dad helps me grapple with tactics
EX-WRESTLER HELPS OLE FLOOR RIVALS
C PALACE V MAN UTD 8.15PM OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER is leaning on his own Big Daddy – wrestler father Oivind – for tips on how to floor his Premier League rivals.
The United boss admits he regularly turns to his 76-year-dad for chats on tactics.
And the six-time Norwegian national Greco-Roman wrestling champion has urged him to stick with rope-a-dope tactics before hitting sides on the counter.
“There are many ways of creating the space you want and sometimes I do have discussions, especially with my dad,” said the United boss.
“He likes to say, ‘Why don’t you just draw them on to you and let them come and press?’
“In some games, to soak up the pressure and to give away the ball, sometimes that creates the space.”
Solskjaer will be trying to tie Roy Hodgson in knots and floor Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park tonight with a view to keeping a grip on second place in the table.
And he is looking for a spark from his side after they have taken just 10 points from a possible 21 in their past seven games.
United are keeping their noses in front of the chasing pack but have been left in Manchester City’s wake as they have stretched away at the top.Asked whether he had given up hope of catching Pep Guardiola’s side, Solskjaer insisted his side have to keep believing, citing the example of racing driver Sir Jackie Stewart.
Stewart, below, posted his first Formula One win at Monza in 1965, taking advantage of leader Jim Clark’s mechanical failure 12 laps from the finish and the last-bend mistake of team-mate Graham Hill.
“We have to go all the way. Don’t think about City, don’t think about the points tally,” he said.
“You’ve got to go every single game step-by-step.
“It’s like Jackie Stewart’s first win in Formula One. You never know what’s going to happen in life and definitely not in football and sports.
“Do our job and don’t have any regrets when the season is over – just pick up as many points as we can, play as much as we can and improve as much as we can.” Solskjaer remains without injured midfielder Donny van de Beek, who continues to struggle with a muscle problem.
But he said his linchpin Paul Pogba is inching back towards resuming training as he recovers from a thigh injury and is expected to be available before the international break at the back end of the month.