PEP SNUBS WALKER AFTER PENALTY ERROR
OTo put a smile back on the faces of the fed-up supporters. The faithful had an increasingly miserable 31 months under sullenfaced Jose Mourinho even though he led United to a League Cup and Europa League double.
They weren’t happy with the brand of boring football produced by the Portuguese and a growing number of empty seats inside Old Trafford told the supporters’ own story of dismay.
But now the baby-faced assassin is in charge until the end of the season – and yesterday the fans enjoyed the fruits of his philosophy with a 5-1 demolition of Cardiff.
The cavalier, attack-minded attitude of the United players at the Cardiff City Stadium proved Solskjaer is a man on a mission to bring back the good old days he enjoyed under Fergie.
Those 11 seasons at Old Trafford peaked with that historic last-gasp 1999 Champions League Final winner against Bayern Munich.
But Solskjaer admits that his new role is just as much of a career dream.
He said: “It’s a big job but a dream job. I never thought it was going to happen. I’m just going to enjoy these five months and do the best I can.
“It’s about getting the fans smiling. I remember Sir Alex telling us many times that we are playing for the supporters.
“That’s the privilege of being a United player. You are playing in front of the best fans in the world because they are so positive.”
Returning to his old stomping ground at United’s Carrington HQ brought back vivid memories for Solskjaer and he immediately felt at home again at “the best club in the world.”
Solskjaer added: “That feeling when I come into the training ground and just see everyone smile and be happy. Give them a big hug… because
PEP GUARDIOLA blanked Kyle Walker after the Manchester City defender gave away a penalty in their shock defeat to Crystal Palace.
Guardiola shook hands with his City players as they left the pitch but made a point of ignoring Walker, whose poor display was capped by him conceding a spot-kick. City’s loss means Liverpool have a four-point lead at the top of the Premier League at Christmas – ahead of their title showdown against Guardiola’s champions at the Etihad Stadium on January 3.
Guardiola admitted City’s defensive mistakes cost them, as Palace – thanks to a goal-ofthe-season contender from Andros Townsend – celebrated their first league win in Manchester, 28 years to the day since their last one.
He said: “The third goal, the penalty, was really tough for us. We have to avoid it, we cannot concede this kind of penalty.
“Football is made up of good things and sometimes bad things. Kyle will learn. What happened is not just down to Kyle. Everybody is involved.
“I just to try to improve so these kinds of things don’t happen again. We scored, but it was a bit late, so congratulations to Palace.”