Ole’s certainly not smiling too much now, Van Persie
FURIOUS Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hit back at Robin van Persie for having a go at his managerial style.
The former Old Trafford striker accused Solskjaer of lacking passion and anger in the wake of Manchester United’s 2-0 New Year’s Day defeat at Arsenal.
Van Persie criticised the United boss for smiling in a post-match interview and claimed he should have been angry.
But United boss Solskjaer, struggling to contain his fury when asked about Van Persie’s comments, said the Dutchman had no right to criticise him the way he did.
“I don’t know Robin and Robin doesn’t know me,” said Solskjaer. “He probably doesn’t have a right to criticise my management style and I won’t change. That’s definite.
“Robin, took my
No.20 shirt and that’s probably all he’s going to take from me as well – because I’m not in medieval times.” By “medieval times”, Solskjaer appears to have been referring to his own managerial style not being stuck in the past and not needing to snarl for the cameras to prove his disappointment. Van Persie (pictured above while working as a BT pundit during the game) said: “When I listen to Ole, he sounds like a really nice guy.
“I would like to see him a bit more mean at times, just be angry. I see him smiling now after a game like that. This is not the moment to smile.” Solskjaer also hit back at Paul Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola for accusing United of failing their club record £89m signing, who is out for up to four weeks following ankle surgery.
Pogba wants to leave United, but Solskjaer effectively told Raiola to keep his mouth shut.
Asked if Raiola should be speaking about United, Solskjaer said: “No. I can speak to Paul about it, but I don’t think I should be talking to agents or about agents that talk about us.
“But Paul is our player and agents are hired by players, not the opposite way around. It’s not ‘agents’ players’ it’s ‘our players’.
“What me and Paul are talking about I don’t have to talk to you about. That will be between us.”
Pogba’s latest injury is not a recurrence of the one that kept him out for three months earlier this season, according to Solskjaer.
The midfielder, who has played just 71 minutes in two substitute appearances since September 30, is unlikely to play again this month.
“It’s an ankle injury,” said Solskjaer ahead of today’s trip to Wolves in the FA Cup. “Some bone fragments. It’s not a big, massive injury, but it will keep him out for a while.
“We felt he was going to be ready for Burnley. Then, when he wasn’t, we had to do the scan. The outcome is that we found something and then we spoke together.
“It wouldn’t be fair to risk any player’s health. You wouldn’t and if the player is not happy with what he’s feeling, he’s got loads of pain, then it might be a worry that it can get worse. So that’s the decision.
“Paul is very committed to coming back, playing well for us, and it’s hard when you’re injured to go and talk about all sorts. I think his talking needs to be when he comes back on the pitch.
“That’s the most important thing, that we get him fit, get everyone fit, everyone playing, but you’re asking me about Paul all the time. He’s a very, very good player that we’ve missed, but I think the boys have done really well without him.”