OLE NOT SORRY
Solskjaer off to flyer and says ex-United bosses had their chance
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER says nobody should feel sorry for Manchester United’s sacked successors to Sir Alex Ferguson.
United’s interim manager turned in a five-star display in his first outing as boss last night – following Jose Mourinho’s departure last week – with a thumping 5-1 win over Cardiff.
And Solskjaer took a swipe at David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Mourinho after they all got the boot.
Solskjaer said: “It was always going to be difficult following Sir Alex. But I’m coming in after two of the best managers in the world in Mourinho and Van Gaal.
“Results have been mixed but football and the Premier League has changed.
“Feel sorry for a United manager? You never feel sorry for them. They’ve got the dream job. I never want anyone to feel sorry for me.
“This is a dream. It’s a big job but a dream job.”
JUST 181 seconds. That’s all it took.
Indeed, we were being treated to only the second rendition of ‘My Ole Gunnar, he makes me happy when skies are grey’ when this new Manchester United found the back of the net.
Wow. Talk about getting off to a flier.
If the shock arrival of the club’s legendary Treble winner had brought immediate relief to the Old Trafford masses in midweek, it just got better and better in Cardiff last night.
Paul Pogba was brought in from the cold by interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, as we all suspected he would.
And with the clock hitting three minutes, the Frenchman, the core of the dressing room divide which led to Jose Mourinho’s sacking, was suddenly back doing what he does best.
Forget the social media posts. Forget the colourful hair-dos. The 2018 World Cup winner comes into his own with the ball at his feet.
A fact he proved against a Bluebirds side hoping for a fourth straight home win.
No chance, his joy at seeing such a remarkable turnaround in fortunes. The on-loan Molde coach already felt he had landed the best job going before kick-off.
He had barely settled into his seat when Pogba’s first assist led to United’s opener.
It looked like he would take the 20-yard free-kick he had won but he dummied and Marcus Rashfor drilled past static keeper Neil Etheridge.
And after Rashford nearly doubled his tally in the 23rd minute, the Red Devils did secure a two-goal cushion, with Pogba the creator.
Having won possession he curled a clever pass into the path of Ander Herrera and the Spanish midfielder’s effort took a deflection and looped into the top corner.
Cardiff were handed a lifeline in