Ole: I can see why Poch is linked with United job Sport/
SOLSKJAER ADMITS SPURS BOSS HAS IMPRESSED
OLE Gunnar Solskjaer understands why Mauricio Pochettino is being linked with the permanent United manager’s role.
The Tottenham coach faces Solskjaer’s Reds at Wembley in the Premier League on Sunday, with the Argentinian and caretaker United manager the frontrunners to become the next full-time manager at Old Trafford.
The Norwegian has had a 100 per cent start to his tenure as United manager, winning all five of his matches to date, but third-placed Spurs provide the toughest test of his three-week stint at the helm following the sacking of Jose Mourinho.
Tottenham are only six points adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool and are competing on all other fronts for silverware, whereas United can only win the FA Cup or Champions League after a woeful first half to the campaign.
And although Solskjaer wouldn’t be drawn on whether he thought Pochettino was a rival for the Old Trafford post, which the Reds legend has already says he wants full time, he did praise the Spurs boss.
“He’s done a very good job,” Solskjaer said of Pochettino.
“The speculation is there for a reason because he’s done well.
“But it’s not my job to rate different managers. My focus is on me and my team.”
After wins over Premier League strugglers Cardiff City, Huddersfield, Bournemouth and Newcastle – as well as an FA Cup victory over Reading – Solskjaer knows he faces his toughest test to date when United take on Spurs.
“You always adapt to any opposition,” he said.
“We are playing one of the best teams in the league and have to be aware of their strengths.
“But I have been brought up in a way that we need to attack teams. That’s our strength as well, both as a team and the way we need to attack teams.
“That is our strength, going forward and attacking as a team.
“We won’t get as many chances to attack against this team as we have had before against other sides, so we’ve got to be ready when we get hold of the ball and play well, use it, because Wembley is a decent size pitch.” United’s first-team squad flew back to Manchester last night after their five-night warm-weather training camp in Dubai. The Reds jetted out to Dubai after the FA Cup third round win against the Royals, with Solskjaer taking the opportunity to spend an uninterrupted week with his players on the training pitch. Youngsters Mason Greenwood, Angel Gomes and Tahith Chong travelled with the first-team after the latter made his senior debut in the game against Reading. Solskjaer said the trip was greatly beneficial to his side. “It’s been great,” he said. “You know it’s a long, hard season and we’ll have ups and downs together. “You’ve got to deal with the wins, defeats, setbacks and players not playing but, when you work together, they all want to play and they all want the best for their team-mates and everyone understands this is a team game.”
The speculation is there for a reason because he’s done well Solskjaer on Pochettino