SOL GOT A LOTTA BOTTLE

Assassin Ole still shoots down critics

OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER claims he is still the Baby Faced Assassin. The Manchester United boss says the criticism he received during his side’s rollercoaster season never affected his belief that he’s the right man for the job. United had gone 11 games unbeaten when the coronavirus crisis brought a Premier League shut-down on Friday.

And Solskjaer’s key role in taking the pressure off his players during the bad times was starting to reap its reward as the Reds cranked up their bid for a top-four finish and put themselves on the brink of moving into the last 16 of the Europa League. The United boss said: “I am confident enough notto be p **** d off with the criticism – and not to worry about what anyone else thinks.

“Why should I concern myself with that? And why should I start talking about myself? That is just not me and I hope I will never get to that.

“I just want the players to be out there expressing themselves and playing football in the way we want.

“I have always been quietly confident, believed in myself but never had to shout about it.”

Solskjaer was nicknamed the “Baby Faced Assassin” during his playing days with United.

And when asked if that still stands, he added: “You can ask the players.

“I’m not going to talk about myself but of course you have to put someone in their place once in a while.

“I am level-headed enough to know when we’ve played well. I was the same as a player. If someone told me I was brilliant when I was s**t, I knew I was s**t.

“I don’t have to listen to so-called friends to tell me if I have done well or if I was bad.

“It’s the same with the team. I know when the team has played well.

“And if someone praises us when we’ve not done well, I am quick enough to say, ‘No, that wasn’t good enough.’”

Proof of how Solskjaer wants to improve is his assessment of last weekend’s Manchester derby victory over City.

The United boss has outflanked City boss Pep Guardiola three times this season – and the latest 2-0 win came despite his team having less than 28 per cent possession.

But Solskjaer isn’t happy with just winning games and has promised fans their counter-attacking style of football won’t be around forever.

Solskjaer said: “I am always going to be

demanding that when we’ve got the ball, we will try to make the most of it.

“Pass forward, run forward – I want us to be that type of team.

“City made it hard for us. If they had let us have 70 per cent possession, then I’d have taken it.

“City won’t let you do that but there are other teams who will.

“So we are getting players in that can play that style as well.

“We are always going to try to evolve and be better and better.

“I’d like my team to have control of the game but you also have to be able to attack quickly when you have the ball.

“I always believe in forward passes, penetrative passes, wide play, getting crosses in the box.

“Every player I’ve had if you ask them will tell you the same, that it’s about passing forward, running forward.”