Solskjaer stays focussed on job
SPURS AWAIT: MOURINHO RETURNS TO OLD TRAFFORD
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says he does not fear for his future as Manchester United manager despite a spate of Premier League sackings as he prepares to face his predecessor Jose Mourinho.
Spurs turned to Mourinho after dismissing Mauricio Pochettino last month, while Arsenal and Watford have subsequently 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 tonight’s match against Tottenham.
“No, it doesn’t make me more concerned,” Solskjaer said yesterday. “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’s a game of margins,” he added. “I’m good. Sometimes you have luck, sometimes you don’t, but it doesn’t make me any more concerned that it’s December.
“I’m all good. 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 level of 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 further 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 in the league,” he said.
Solskjaer expects Mourinho to receive a warm welcome when he returns to Old Trafford a year after being sacked by United, having won the League Cup and Europa League during his time in charge.