Western Daily Press (Saturday)
I’m here to do a job, not get all excited – Solskjaer
OLE Gunnar Solskjaer has brushed off questions about his Manchester United future despite increasing talk about when, rather than if, the caretaker boss is given the job on a permanent basis.
Solskjaer has won 14 of his 17 matches in charge, and this week rendered his only loss meaningless as United became the first team in Champions League history to overcome a two-goal home first-leg defeat.
Wednesday’s 3-1 win at Paris St Germain even saw a bookmaker pay out on the overriding favourite succeeding Jose Mourinho full time, but, like the club, he is keeping quiet.
“Of course, I love managing these boys, I love working here,” Solskjaer said. “As I said so many times, I am just doing the best I can every single day, and if and when... if it comes to a decision to be made, we’ve got to think about that.”
United’s players are confident that Solskjaer will have a decision to make as Luke Shaw is “certain” that the Norwegian will get the job, while Romelu Lukaku asked in Paris: “What else does he have to do?”
Such comments heightened talk that Solskjaer himself fuelled by admitting to a Norwegian podcast that his contract with Molde, the club he is supposed to return to in the summer, has been terminated.
“That’s just the media,” Solskjaer said of the constant speculation. “I am not here to get excited, I am here to do my job.
“And of course, that contract issue there, you cannot have two contracts when you’re a manager, so that contract was terminated. I am con- tracted to Man United until the end of June.”
Solskjaer has been looking ahead to summer signings and pre-season plans, but his main focus now is tomorrow’s trip to Arsenal.
“Eric (Bailly) is fine,” Solskjaer said of a defender he substituted after 36 minutes in Paris. “Anthony (Martial) will be available and hopefully we’ll have Nemanja (Matic) and/or Ander (Herrera) ready as well.
“We’re looking better for it. They just need to have another couple of days training with the team. They’ve done well with their recovery work.”