Solskjaer: Rooney could manage here
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says he could see Wayne Rooney taking charge of Manchester United one day, but only if he can show that he is willing to make the huge sacrifices that management demands.
Rooney will face former club United tonight, in the FA Cup fifth round at Pride Park, for the first time since taking on a player-coach role at Derby County.
The former England captain, United’s all-time record scorer with 253 goals, is keen to manage at the highest level, but Solskjaer has warned his former team-mate that it will require total commitment to the job to achieve that.
“Yeah,” Solskjaer said, when asked if he could see Rooney following in his footsteps by managing United in the future. “It depends on how much you put into the job and how much you want it. It takes over your life, but it’s the second best after playing. I am sure there are many ex-players and managers who want my job.”
Solskjaer admitted that he did not see a future manager or coach in Rooney when they were Old Trafford team-mates between 2004 and 2007, but that in later years it was clear the striker-turned-midfielder was desperate to remain in the game after retiring as a player. He has warned his United side that Rooney will be determined to roll back the years this evening.
“He’s a threat in and around the box, set-plays, and in this game Wayne will show what he can do,” Solskjaer said. “He wants to prove there is still fight in the old dog.
We’ve got to be on our toes, don’t give him any space in midfield.”
With United unbeaten in eight matches, Solskjaer hopes they are finally gathering momentum at a crucial stage of the season. The manager has been trying to rebuild the culture at Old Trafford and offered an insight into his management style by revealing that if a player fails to heed a warning, he is likely to be heading for the exit.
“I think the squad is going places and the players are taking on board what we are trying to sell to them,” he said. “The camaraderie, the attitude, is getting better. I can see more of me in this team before. Of course I am [decisive], I’ve got to make decisions. You give them one warning and that’s it probably, and then the next thing maybe they are not here any more. You can’t just speak to them 100 times and say, ‘Now we need a change in you.’ You have had opportunities.”
Solskjaer said Paul Pogba will resume first-team training next week but that the France midfielder, who is recovering from ankle surgery and has played just 71 minutes since the end of September, remains a way off a return to action. “Paul’s still working with the physios and he won’t be training with the first team until next week.”
United have doubts over rightback Aaron Wan-bissaka against Derby owing to a back problem.