The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Feels like I’m ‘coming home’, says Solskjaer
MAN UNITED: Norwegian eager to get started after a ‘few whirlwind’ days
Interim Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer feels he is “coming home” after taking up the reins relinquished by Jose Mourinho.
Solskjaer, who will be at the Old Trafford helm for the remainder of the season, told MUTV in his first interview: “It’s great. It feels like coming home, I have to say. It’s been a few whirlwind days, of course, it’s been very hectic, but it’s just great to see everyone again.”
Asked if he could make an impact in his time in charge, Solskjaer replied: “Well, it’s six months and I’m going to enjoy the ride. I’m back home, if you like, and it’s about seeing the players, seeing the staff. It’s about just being myself.
“I know the club is now running a process to find the next manager, so I’m just going to be myself in the meantime with Mick (Phelan) and Kieran (McKenna) and Michael (Carrick) and the rest of the staff.
“We’ll just get the players enjoying football, and I’m looking forward to seeing the supporters again.”
Solskjaer’s arrival comes with United preparing for four games in 11 days over the Christmas period, and he has challenged his players to show what they can do during that busy period.
He said: “You certainly get to see the players in a game, in a pressure situation, but I think the amount of games coming up is no problem because you’ve got this amazing squad of players.
“We have got 23, 24 players, they’re all quality and they’ll all get a chance now. With the amount of games coming up, they have got a chance to show that they are Manchester United players.”
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino was stopped from answering questions on speculation linking him to the United job.
Pochettino is United’s first choice to replace Mourinho, but addressed the situation on Tuesday when he insisted he was focused on his job at Spurs.
The story has not gone away, though, and at his press conference yesterday to preview Sunday’s Premier League game at Everton, questions on the subject were repeatedly shut down by the club’s press officer, who insisted the matter had already been discussed.
Cameras were then asked to be switched off as the reporter posing the questions stood his ground, with a debate that lasted just under two minutes.