The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Solskjaer just focusing on job
United caretaker boss quiet on future despite clamour for appointment after Paris win
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer brushed off questions about his Manchester United future despite increasing talk about when, rather than if, the caretaker manager is given the job on a permanent basis.
Solskjaer has won 14 of his 17 matches in charge, and on Wednesday rendered his only loss to date meaningless as United became the first team in Champions League history to overcome a home first-leg loss of two goals.
Wednesday’s jaw-dropping 3-1 win at Paris St Germain even saw a bookmaker pay out on the overriding favourite succeeding Jose Mourinho full-time, but, much like the club, he is keeping quiet.
“Of course, I love managing these boys, I love working here,” Solskjaer said.
“As I said so many times, I am just doing the best I can every single day, and if and when... if it comes to a decision to be made, we’ve got to think about that.”
United’s players are confident Solskjaer will have a decision to make.
Luke Shaw is “certain” the Norwegian will get the job, while Romelu Lukaku asked in Paris “What else does he have to do?”
Such comments heightened talk that Solskjaer himself fuelled by admitting to a Norwegian podcast that his contract with Molde, the club he is supposed to return to in the summer, has been terminated.
“That’s just the media,” Solskjaer said of the constant speculation. “I am not here to get excited, I am here to do my job.
“And of course, that contract issue there, you cannot have two contracts when you’re a manager, so that contract was terminated.
“I am contracted to Man United until the end of June.”
Solskjaer has been looking ahead to summer signings and pre-season plans, but his main focus now is tomorrow’s
trip to Arsenal in the Premier League.
Still unbeaten domestically, United head to the Emirates Stadium – a ground where they beat the Gunners 3-1 in the FA Cup in January – with their absentee list easing.
Paul Pogba is available after serving a European suspension in Paris, Anthony Martial has recovered from a groin injury, while Ander Herrera and Nemanja Matic are pushing for a return.
“Eric (Bailly) is fine,” Solskjaer said of a defender he substituted after 36 minutes in Paris.
“Anthony will be available and hopefully we’ll have Nemanja and/or Ander ready as well.”
The Premier League has confirmed it is investigating allegations of malpractice at league leaders Manchester City.
The news comes a day after European governing body Uefa announced it had opened a fresh investigation into claims the club breached its Financial Fair Play regulations and other recent allegations concerning the recruitment of Academy players and third-party ownership.
City will bid to move four points clear ahead of rivals Liverpool at the top of the table in tonight’s game with Watford.
Manager Pep Guardiola is not yet looking beyond what he expects to be a tough game against Javier Gracia’s side this weekend.
He said: “It’s incredible what he’s done. It is one of the toughest games we have in the last nine games.
“They have physicality, quality one on one, they are strong in the air, well organised. This season they have achieved a lot of points, they have done incredibly well.”
Playmaker Kevin De Bruyne suffered a hamstring injury in last week’s victory at Bournemouth and joins midfielder Fernandinho (groin) and defenders Aymeric Laporte (hamstring) and John Stones (groin) on the sidelines.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists he has “no bad feelings” about Burnley despite a fractious encounter the last time they met.
Following the 3-1 win at Turf Moor in early December, Klopp was outspoken in his criticism of the Clarets’ physical approach which left defender Joe Gomez with a fractured leg from which he has still not recovered.
He described the manner of Burnley’s tackling like 10-pin bowling “because you get the player as well”.
It sparked a row with Sean Dyche, but the Reds boss said that had all now been forgotten.
“There is nothing to say about that any more,” Klopp said. “I say what I said at the time, nearly three months ago.
“We are human beings, we react in the moment. I made a lot of mistakes in my life and most of the time I regret them.
“It was an injury, it happened then and he (Gomez) is still not playing. That is all you can say.”