Old Trafford job not too big for me to handle, says Solskjaer
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has insisted the job of managing Manchester United is not too big for him and says he has no regrets over his short-term gambles with the squad.
The Norwegian has also urged his goal-shy side to take more risks ahead of the visit of Premier League leaders Liverpool tomorrow.
United could find themselves in the bottom three by Monday night if they lose to Liverpool and other results go against them. But despite the club’s worst start to a season for 30 years, Solskjaer has no doubts over his ability to lead United forward and has stood by his decisions in the summer transfer market.
“No, I’ve never felt it’s too big for me,” he said. “I’m confident in what we’re trying to do and I’m confident in my staff. But it’s about results: start winning games, start scoring goals, we need to create more chances because at the back we’ve looked solid.
“But we haven’t been adventurous enough, taking enough risks. If you watch the best teams they take more risks with the ball, they make more runs in behind and that’s part of the process for the boys. When they’re losing confidence maybe they want to play it a bit more safe but it’s not safety that does it here – at this club you do take risks.”
Anthony Martial could be on the bench against Liverpool after eight weeks out with a thigh injury but the departures of Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez to Inter Milan have left United short up front. Solskjaer, though, defended his decision not to sign a striker.
“We know that we have made some decisions that maybe in the short term would harm us but in the long term will benefit us and that’s part of the plan. It was the right time to make those decisions and go on with the squad we have. The last few weeks have been difficult and hard… but it’s not like two or three weeks will tell me it was the wrong decision. No, they were the right decisions.”
Solskjaer said he did not expect goalkeeper David de Gea to play after suffering a groin injury on duty with Spain. Paul Pogba has also been ruled out but Solskjaer said he “didn’t have any problem” with his midfielder being pictured with Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane – who tried to sign him this summer – while doing rehabilitation work on his ankle injury in Dubai.
Mason Greenwood has signed a new four-year contract at United.