SCHOOL Solskjaer: I’m sticking to United’s traditions
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER insists Manchester United will never copy anyone’s style of play – even Pep Guardiola’s. stick to. Traditions built from Sir Matt Busby (below, top) and Sir Alex Ferguson (below, bottom) pace, power, quick attacks.
“We all have philosophies and beliefs in ways to win games.
“There have been loads of different ways of being successful and I think we as a club have been successful.
“We’re improving and getting closer to winning things.
“I have always believed in my way of playing football although sometimes you look at other mangers and think you’ll adopt one little thing from his way of playing, one little thing from another.
“I was the same as a player. I couldn’t be the same as David Beckham – but I always wanted to cross the ball as well as Becks. “I couldn’t be the same player as Ryan Giggs but I like to dribble as good as Giggsy and be on the front foot.” Guardiola has won titles galore at City, Bayern Munich and Barcelona with an aggressive, attacking style of play built around dominating possession.
But for all his success in Spain, Germany and now England, Solskjaer doesn’t believe he has reinvented the wheel. “No one has invented any style by themselves,” added the Norwegian.
“They have taken little bits from other managers and teams and I have taken a lot of my football philosophy, of course, from the time I was here at Man United and in Norway.
“I had some great coaches there with the same beliefs that we have to attack quickly.
“Whenever there is the chance and the opposition is out of balance you counter-attack.
“I think all the best teams can counter-attack. All the best teams can break down a deep block.
“As I’ve said, it’s about players. It’s the quality and we are getting there. And we are getting better in most parts of our game.
“We’re working as hard as we can every single day – and that is everyone from the scouts to the cleaning ladies and the people in the kitchens.
“I know our fans want us to win and that they’re impatient for success. Everyone is working really hard to get us to where we feel belong – and that’s to
the top.”