FUL OF FIGHT
Ranieri says Solskjaer has shown him the way
CLAUDIO RANIERI says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has given him the blueprint for saving Fulham.
Ranieri insists Solskjaer deserves the manager’s job at Manchester United permanently for the way that he has transformed their fortunes since taking charge in December.
The Italian has struggled to have any impact at secondfrom-bottom Fulham, who have just one win and five defeats from their last six games.
But ahead of tomorrow’s clash between the teams, Ranieri says the way that
United under
Solskjaer (right)
are fighting as one is what his players need to learn from.
The Fulham boss said: “He deserves the job at the moment. He shows the players are with him. Manchester has changed the mentality. Why not?
“The result speaks for him. All wins and one draw, the players change their mind, they are more involved and they are fighting together.
“We are in a bad moment but our confidence is high and we continue to fight.
“We know where we are, we know it’s very tough and then we need soldiers who have to fight until the end. That’s my philosophy, we play against a big team who are looking to achieve Champions League but we are ready to fight.
“We must be positive and have to fight. If we don’t fight, you lose before you play.
“It’s not tragedy, it’s football, it’s sport and we are used to the fight.
“If the opponent is better, well done to them. I want to see my players fight until the end. “My fans will be happy seeing the players fight for every ball.” Ranieri once signed Anthony Martial, who has just put pen to paper on a new contract with United, when he was in charge of Monaco and says the Frenchman looks a player reborn under Solskjaer.
He said: “I signed him for £5m – it was good business, no? “Anthony was fantastic. I watched him during the Under-22s match against Monaco and was impressed. “When the chance came to buy him from Lyon, I said, ‘Take this guy because for me he could have a good future’. He came to Manchester and well done to him.
“He’s very good, can dribble, is strong and fast.”