I’VE DONE SOME SOL SEARCHING
Ole: I’ve asked myself if I have what it takes. Can I handle setbacks? Can I handle success? YES, I THINK I CAN
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER has revealed the pressure he’s under at Manchester United and admitted he did some serious soul-searching before taking the job.
Solskjaer celebrates two years in the United hot-seat a week today, with his suitability for the role a topic of fierce debate after a Champions League exit in midweek.
The 47- year- old was phlegmatic when asked how he deals with the constant scrutiny he is under, but revealed he had to be sure he could handle it before taking on arguably the biggest job in football.
“There’s always pressure on you when you manage Manchester United,” said Solskjaer. “That’s something I had to think about when I accepted the role.
“Do I have what it takes to be in such a situation? Can I handle setbacks? Can I handle success? I think I can. “I’ve got a fantastic staff
me who I use as sparring partners for discussions and even the conversation with the club goes on all the time.
“It’s a continuous open dialogue and, when you come to work the next day, you see the quality of the players you have and you want to work with them.”
After losing three of their first four league matches at home this season, United have recovered to win their last four and stand just two points off fourth spot.
Last season’s third-place finish was proof of the progress made under Solskjaer, who cannot afford his team to regress domestically after failing on their return to the Champions League.
“Of course we were disappointed on Tuesday night, it’s just natural,” said Solskjaer, whose side lost 3-2 at RB Leipzig.
“We really wanted to go through in that tournament but the reality is we didn’t and now we’ve got to move on.
“It was a tight group, decided by fine margins, and I think you can see that in most of the games.
“I feel we’re getting better and better and looking more like the Manchester United team that I want to see, with fast, dynamic attackers.
“We’ve got good players with individual quality who can create magic out of nothing, and that’s always been the case at United.
“But we can see more of the penetration and consistency everyone says we don’t have.
“We’ve won our last four in the league, which has become a good run, and hopefully that continues.”
Solskjaer remained coy on whether David De Gea, accused by Old Trafford legend Paul Scholes of “bottling it” for Leiparound
zig’s third goal ( left) in midweek, will keep his place for today’s Manchester derby ahead of England star Dean Henderson, who is pushing for the No.1 spot.
Asked if De Gea was undroppable, Solskjaer, whose side took six points off City last season, said: “You want every player to play well and feel that they have competition, and I have competition in every single position.
“David knows that Dean Henderson is a fantastic keeper and Dean knows that David is a fantastic keeper, so the two of them are fighting for one spot.
“That may be different for the outfielders, who can play in different positions.
“But, as a manager, you want all the players to feel that they have to perform to really move this team and myself forward.”