Leading trio are at heart of Solskjaer’s squad goals

OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER has revealed Manchester United have an iron-willed dressing room built for success – with players who can walk the walk.

And the United boss has claimed the mentality of stars like Bruno Fernandes, Edinson Cavani and Paul Pogba has raised the stakes after admitting he had to reshape his squad and drive a money-grabbing ethos OUT of Old Trafford.

United’s stars clash with rivals Liverpool in the FA Cup today with Solskjaer insisting his key men have trophy-winning character – not just ability.

“I think that runs through the squad and that’s part of my thinking when you bring players in,” said Solskjaer (right).

“You don’t just bring big talents in, you research their character as much as you can to have the right types.

“Because there are always players who think, ‘There’s a game next week and I’ll still get my wages.’ That’s the mentality we had to get away from.

“I wanted players to come here to push the boundaries, the levels and drive it on from the inside.

“It can’t come just from the outside. With players like Bruno, Edinson and Paul Pogba I feel I have a dressing room that is driven to success.

“That makes my job easier – 100 per cent. When you talk the talk you have to walk the walk.

“We had players here when I played – Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs – they drove it on.

“When they spoke you knew you had no leg to stand on to argue, because you knew that they did it every single day.

“And that’s what we need from our players.

“Many of us in the game have been in dressing rooms where people talk – but you think, ‘What are you talking about?’

“They talk the talk but you don’t really walk the walk. Put your money where your mouth is.

“But the players we’re talking about – Pogba and Cavani and Bruno – they’ve been there, they know what it takes and they demand it off their team-mates.”

Solskjaer believes his masterplan is coming together nicely – with United making clear strides and turning draws into wins.

“I set out a plan myself and the club believed in it and then you have fingers crossed,” he said.

“We thought step by step and not massive wholesale changes was the way forward.

“Sometimes you upset the apple cart too much if you do make too many changes.

“But slowly, we have added the experience and winning mentality. “With Bruno coming in and also Edinson, Alex Telles and Donny van de Beek in the summer it’s brought a mentality that has added to us layer by layer.

“Suddenly we start winning games that are tight.

“Last season we’d have had four or five draws compared to the last-minute wins – especially away from home.” Solskjaer’s top-of-the-table stars face Liverpool at Old Trafford with shades of United’s 1999 Treble winning year in the mix.

Exactly 22 years today, Solskjaer climbed off the bench to grab a last-minute winner against Liverpool in the FA Cup fourth round – a win that helped propel Sir Alex Ferguson’s stars towards immortality.

“We had some tight-fought games and a few moments like that in the FA Cup that season,” said the Norwegian.

“Probably the defining moment for me on the run-in that season was Peter Schmeichel saving Dennis Bergkamp’s penalty.

“But, of course, it was a big game against Liverpool although it looked like we weren’t going to score.

“We had some massive chances, Keano hit the post and then I stole the ball off Paul Scholes to score.

“I only had three touches in the game. Two to settle and one to put it through Jamie Carragher’s legs.

“That was the first goal I scored against Liverpool – and it was a big one.”