Kids can do the job
PRESSURE’S ALL ON SOLSKJAER AS NORWICH KEEP IT REAL FOR FARKE
DANIEL FARKE goes head to head with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer today with one huge advantage.
The Norwich boss knows there will be no calls for his sacking even if they are handed a thrashing at home to Manchester United.
And that is not a luxury enjoyed by United boss Solskjaer, who will be under immense pressure if the underachieving Red Devils slip up in Norfolk.
Norwich will kick off in the bottom three thanks to just two wins so far on their Premier League return.
But Canaries director of football Stuart Webber has already made it clear that two things definitely won’t be happening this term.
One is Farke being given £50million to spend in January and the other being handed his P45.
The Canaries have gambled and lost before in a desperate quest to stay up and have decided to follow the example of Burnley, who stuck with Sean Dyche through tough times and are now reaping the benefits.
Farke said: “Sometimes the club has to be patient with the coach and the coach has to accept the conditions of the club. I appreciate there is trust from the club in my work.
“There is still pressure and when you lose games you know there will be criticism. Sometimes the board is accused of not spending enough money. But we have to live with this.”
Norwich went down in 2016 with a host of players on hefty contracts and were in financial strife for two years until they sold James Maddison to Leicester for £20m.
Farke got them promoted on a shoestring straight after and looks set to be tasked with trying to carry on the miracle come what may.
He said: “I signed a new contract not that long ago and I knew that it would be a sensation if we stayed up because we are still paying even this year for the sins of the past. I know that to add some quality gives you a bigger chance of staying in this league but I also knew we wouldn’t be able to do that.”
Farke admitted he may have to part with a rising star or two however if bigger clubs come calling in January.
Max Aarons is at the top of that list as Tottenham are keen to recruit the England Under-21 right-back.
Mauricio Pochettino sees the 19-year-old as the new Kyle Walker, and is less than impressed with current choices Serge Aurier and Kyle Walker-Peters having sold England’s Kieran Trippier to Atletico Madrid in the summer.
Farke indicated that Spurs could get their man — for the right price.
He said: “Sometimes a player develops quicker than a club and you have to accept that a player wants to have a bigger move and that there are bigger clubs in world football than we are.
“But there is no financial pressure on us — we don’t have to sell any player even if there is an offer of £200m.
“We don’t need the money to keep the club going.”