JOSE LEFT UNITED IN A ‘MESS’

Solskjaer: Lots needed to change

OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER claims he inherited a complete mess when he took over at Manchester United from Jose Mourinho.

Prior to football’s suspension, Solskjaer was due to go head to head with Mourinho at Tottenham tomorrow.

And he reckoned that the Special One left United in a state of disarray.

Since succeeding the Portuguese in December 2018, Solskjaer has got rid of nine players and signed four permanently in an overhaul of the squad.

“I felt a lot needed to be changed,” said Solskjaer.

“We’ve signed four players, lost quite a few and promoted from within, with lots of youngsters.

“I don’t know how dramatic those changes have been. I don’t think it feels dramatic for the squad and the ones that were here.

“We needed certain pieces in the puzzle and they’ve worked.

“I believe that we’re going places. I believe that we’re on the track that Manchester United need to be on.

“There are different cultures at different clubs and different ways of doing things and I believe in the way we do things now.

“I don’t necessarily believe in everything we’ve done before, but at the moment I believe in what we’re doing.

“I think I’m the right man, but I’m not going to sit here and talk about that. The proof is in the pudding at the end of the day.”

While Mourinho has publicly bemoaned the loss of Harry Kane, Heungmin Son and Steven Bergwijn at Tottenham, Solskjaer has had to cope with losing high-profile players Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford to injury.

“Yeah, but I don’t talk about those two, do I?” added Solskjaer. “I want to focus on the ones who are fit and the ones I’ve got.

“There’s a chance for new players to challenge for a place in the team. It’s part and parcel of this game that you have injuries. We’ve managed well without some of our top players this season.”

Solskjaer has an impressive record against the other top clubs this season, with a league double over Manchester City and Chelsea, who they also beat in the Carabao Cup.

United also beat Spurs at Old Trafford in December and until Watford beat Liverpool last month, were the only side to take points off the runaway league leaders this season.

“It’s not just about tactics, it’s about the players and I’ve got great staff,” said the Norwegian.

“We sit and have great discussions going into different games.

“I’ve got a philosophy I think is worthy of this club.

“I’m a Red and I know what this club needs.”