No jitters over United contract, says Solskjaer
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says he does not fear for his future as Manchester United manager despite a spate of recent Premier League sackings as he prepares to face his predecessor Jose Mourinho.
Spurs turned to Mourinho after dismissing Mauricio Pochettino in November, while Arsenal and Watford have sacked Unai Emery and Quique Sanchez Flores.
Solskjaer is under increasing pressure, with United ninth in the Premier League, 22 points behind leaders Liverpool and eight off a top-four spot as they prepare for Wednesday’s match against Tottenham.
“No, it doesn’t make me more concerned,” Solskjaer said at his prematch media conference on Tuesday. “I’m just focusing on my job and that’s just doing as well as I can, and look forward to the next game, and look long term, plan things with the board.
“It’s that time of year. It’s never nice to see your colleagues lose their jobs — three in a very short space of time. It’ sa game of margins,” he said.
“Sometimes you have luck, sometimes you don’t, but it doesn’t make me any more concerned that it’s December.
“I’m good, absolutely no problem. Sometimes you laugh when you read stories about what I’ve said and stuff, at least I know the sources are just made up, blatant lies.”
The United boss bemoaned his team’s failure to turn draws into wins, saying they were not getting the results their football deserved. The club are winless in three games and Solskjaer’s job will not get any easier with a derby against Manchester City on Saturday to follow the game against Mourinho’s Spurs side.
The Norwegian, though, dismissed any need for crisis talks with the United board.
“Three days or four days are not going to change a whole lot, but these two games are great chances for us to prove things and prove to ourselves that we can continue in the vein we have had against some of the better sides,” he said.
Solskjaer expects Mourinho to receive a warm welcome when he returns to Old Trafford a year after being sacked, having won the League Cup and Europa League during his time.
“We know we have to improve, we are working hard to do that right and when you change a manager halfway through the season [it] isn’t where it is supposed to be,” said the Norwegian.
Mourinho aims to continue his 100% start as Tottenham manager when he returns to Old Trafford. “Tomorrow I go back as a coach of the team that is going to try and beat Manchester United and that maybe gives a different perspective,” Mourinho said on Tuesday. “Going back to Old Trafford is to go back to a place where I was happy. I have a great relation with the Manchester United supporters.
“I expect there is respect shown towards me, but I understand what they want is exactly the opposite of what I want — I want Tottenham to win. During the match of course, I expect them to forget me and I expect them to support their team.” /