OLE LOOKS ON THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE
Solskjaer’s upbeat attitude is paying dividends for Reds
WHAT a difference a year makes at Manchester United.
Twelve months ago, Jose Mourinho went on his infamous “football heritage” rant, blaming everything and anybody but himself for United’s shock Champions League exit to Sevilla, following a 2-1 home defeat.
Mourinho complained about the personnel at his disposal, and mocked United’s performances at home and abroad, since Sir Alex Ferguson’s 2013 retirement, suggesting expectations should be lowered.
Fast-forward a year and the mood could not be more different, thanks to caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s positive mindset.
Even though Solskjaer was missing 10 players for United’s Champions League last-16 tie at Paris SaintGermain on Wednesday, his refusal to dwell on the negatives ultimately saw the Reds through on an
extraordinary night of high drama. United have been transformed by his positive attitude, which has seen them advance to the Champions League quarter-finals and haul themselves back into the race for a top-four place in the Premier League.
The Reds travel to Arsenal tomorrow, where they won in the FA Cup six weeks ago, looking for a 10th successive away victory, the players revitalised.
“I don’t know any other way to approach things,” said Solskjaer.
“Every single time I’ve been injured when I played, you have to look at it and say, ‘What opportunities does this give you?’
“That’s always been me. That’s in my upbringing, where I come from.
“I remember, I smashed my cheekbone, playing a reserve game. I’ve got my diary back home, and two days after – I did the operation the next morning – I wrote: ‘What opportunities does this give me?’
“That’s because I couldn’t do any physical contact, but I could do loads of physical work, fitness work, running, finishing work, all those little things that have always been with me.”
Whereas Mourinho would undoubtedly have bemoaned his misfortune at having so many players out, Solskjaer used the situation to his advantage, talking up those players who came into the team, and refusing to allow any negativity to cloud the task in hand. The reward for such an upbeat approach was one of the greatest nights in United’s rich European history and a historic Champions League comeback (Reds stars celebrate victory, above).
“When players were injured, it gave me a great opportunity to play the likes of Scott McTominay, Fred and Andreas Pereira,” said Solskjaer. “The PSG game was the perfect chance to see them. I can’t control how many players are out and you can’t do anything about it.
“Now, of course, the fitness issue plays in more than ever, because we’ve got players coming back and players who put a proper shift in.
“It was one of the hardest nights we’ve had physically – probably this one (PSG) and the Arsenal FA Cup game are the two hardest we’ve had.”
United will welcome back Anthony Martial from injury tomorrow, after he missed the last five games with a groin problem, while Ander Herrera and Nemanja Matic are both in line to return.
Solskjaer is set to be confirmed as United’s new permanent boss, but remained tightlipped when quizzed on his upcoming appointment. “Of course, I love managing these boys and working here,” added United’s interim boss.
“But, as I’ve said many times, I’m just doing the best I can every single day. And if it comes to a decision to be made, we’ve got to think about that.”
“We go into this game positive. We’ve got players there that are fresh, they haven’t played too much, so we’ve got to look at the positives in the circumstances” – SOLSKJAER BEFORE MAN UTD’S WIN IN PARIS, WITHOUT 10 SENIOR PLAYERS
“We have lots of players that I could consider injury-prone, because some of our players are always injured. When you are permanently injured, physicality is very difficult to get.” – MOURINHO, AFTER A 3-1 DEFEAT AT LIVERPOOL ON DECEMBER 16, HIS LAST GAME AS UNITED BOSS