WIN IT FOR FERGIE
United legend part of Ole’s final prep
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER believes Sir Alex Ferguson can inspire him to lift his first trophy as Manchester United manager.
Legendary former United boss Ferguson, whose recovery from a life-threatening brain haemorrhage is documented in a new film, travelled with the squad and watched them train ahead of tonight’s Europa League final against Villarreal.
Solskjaer, who scored the Champions League winner to clinch the treble for United in 1999 under Ferguson, said: “He flew out with us and some of the
I am not very superstitious but this looks a good sign
OLE Gunnar Solskjaer is aiming to keep a recurring date with destiny and lead Manchester United to Europa League glory.
United take on Villarreal 22 years to the night since Solskjaer’s Champions League winner in the Nou Camp earned him instant legendary status at Old Trafford.
May 26 was also the birthday of the late former United manager Sir Matt Busby while the number 26 has further significance for Solskjaer. His wife Silje’s birthday is on the 26th and they were married on the 26th. No wonder he is hopeful the special number will prove lucky once again here in Gdansk as he seeks his first trophy as United boss.
“I have to believe in destiny or ‘skjebne’ in Norwegian,” said Solskjaer, right. “It’s a special number for us, for my family as well. I’ve got to take this as a good omen. “I’m not very superstitious, but it looks like a good sign. But the players need to do their jobs. Maybe we can honour Sir Matt’s birthday with another win.
“But the players when they sign for United, they do so to win trophies.
They accept the challenge of being the best, because this is the best club in the world, and that’s the pressure of Manchester United.”
United’s most recent silverware came in 2017, when Jose Mourinho led the club to Europa League success and with it a return to the Champions League, after finishing sixth in the Premier League that season.
With second place in the top flight having guaranteed United entry to the Champions League next term, there is not that added pressure this time.
But Solskjaer knows the importance of lifting the trophy tonight, to create a winning culture that can act as a springboard for competing for the bigger prizes again. “These are big nights for us,” he said. “It might be the stepping stone for something better to come, a bright future.
“This team is a young team and it’s a team we’ve rebuilt over the past couple of years, so hopefully this is the start of something more. “Players, when they get the taste of success, when they win trophies, it can go two ways – ‘We’ve done it now and we can relax’ – or, as I’ve had a few times, it just gives you more of that feeling.
“You want more, you want it all the time, you want the feeling again with your team-mates, with your club.
“This group of players has been working hard for a year or two together and it’s the next step for them now.”
Solskjaer’s indelible act as a United player was his winner against Bayern Munich, when he came off the bench to score the most important goal in the club’s history.
Tonight he can write another chapter in his United story and, when asked what he had learned from 1999, Solskjaer said he would tell his players to adopt the mindset he had on that epic day.
“What I learnt was to trust your team, trust your gut instinct. I’ll tell the team and the subs they might have to play a big part for us, because it’s happened before. The subs can be disappointed and angry with me but be ready when you come on.Whoever starts, enjoy it, because you don’t get to play too many finals in your life.”