Solskjaer: Winning trophies is more of an ego thing for managers, league position is where true progress is seen

Hansi Fick

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Ole Gunnar Solskjær has downplayed the significance of Manchester United winning cups, saying they can be “ego things” for some clubs and managers and that consistently challenging for the league signifies true progress.

Solskjær takes United to Milan for Thursday’s Europa League last 16 second leg after the first finished 1-1 at Old Trafford. As Stefano Pioli’s side have an away goal, United must score at San Siro or they will be eliminated.

United are also still in the FA Cup – they face Leicester at the King Power in the quarter-finals on Sunday – yet Solskjær, referencing that it has been four years since United won a trophy, said winning a knockout competition was not the best gauge of their progress.

“I’ve been here for two and a half of those years and coming I felt a big rebuild had to be made,” said the manager. “In the league position you see if there’s any progress – for me, that’s always the bread and butter of the season [because] you see how capable you are of coping with ups and downs.

“Any cup competition can give you a trophy but sometimes it’s more of an ego thing from other managers and clubs to finally win something. But we need to see progress and if we perform well enough the trophies will end up at the club again.

“It’s not like a trophy will say: ‘We’re back.’ No, it’s the gradual progression of being in and around the top of the league and the consistency, and the odd cup competition can hide the fact you’re still struggling a little bit.”
https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...ks-progress-not-cup-wins-ole-gunnar-solskjaer

I could swear I have heard that somewhere before, and then read some strong opinions on it.

Anyone want to explain themselves?
 
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RUCK4444

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I more of less posted this word for word as my opinion on it just the other day.

You have G Nev saying ‘WE MUST’ win a trophy and finish second this season.

Boll@x. A cup would be nice for everybody but it doesn’t guarantee that we’ve improved, league position does.
 

VP89

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I think he's eluding to what Poch was referring to as well, when he was criticized for not fielding strong teams in Carabao cups and that.

Cups are not equal in weighting, so I think Ole is saying finishing 2nd is as important as a winning the Europa Cup. But obviously winning the Champions Leauge is more important than finishing 2nd.
 

charlenefan

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Just you watch those who defended Poch for the exact same comments tear Ole a new one
 
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in essence he’s right.

you are a better team if you finish second and win nothing than if you finish 5th and win cups.

however, it only works as part of the bigger picture. It’s how you judge progress of a team, who wants to get back to challenging, and winning the league.

finishing 2nd is part of the journey, not the destination.
 

cyberman

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Hes right. You can fluke cup wins. Consistency is always the barometer.
 

Hansi Fick

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Can the Bayern fan at least spell the Man United manager's name properly?
I do sincerely apologize. I did look at it thrice and decided it was correct, it wasn't.
 

Pexbo

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There was a time when managers words were taken exactly for what they are - words designed to take the pressure off or motivated their squad.

It seems nowadays, their words are taken as gospel and used to judge their character.
 

Chesterlestreet

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He's obviously right.

But people will interpret the statement as: "We don't have to win trophies".
 

el3mel

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Yes, I posted about this in the presser thread. Pretty funny who word to word to exactly similar quote by Poch who we all mocked for not having winning mentality (and I think both are daft comments).

Interesting to see how others will try to paint both quotes different.
 
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There was a time when managers words were taken exactly for what they are - words designed to take the pressure off or motivated their squad.

It seems nowadays, their words are taken as gospel and used to judge their character.
the over analysis is pretty boring, and a massive distraction.
 

reddevilz007

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Winning a trophy is like reaching and getting out of a tunnel.

Finishing second is like seeing the light but never getting out of the tunnel.
 

sullydnl

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Winning tophies is in general terms the most important thing, as I think Solskjaer implied.

However, if you're looking at it strictly in terms of how a team is progressing then league position probably is the better and more consistent indicator, as teams who will prove to be poorer in the longer term can nonetheless go on better cup runs.

Even that isn't perfect though. For example, in the 17/18 season we finished 2nd under Mourinho while Liverpool finished 4th, yet we still had people (rightly) arguing that they were showing more signs of progress based on their style of play and performances, with those performances also taking them to a CL final. In that case judging the progress of the two teams based solely on league position would have been misleading.
 

Dancfc

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Depends on what the end goal is and more importantly whether you think the person incharge can eventually see it through.

If you genuinely believe Ole can eventually win the league and challenge for CL then yeah it's progress (if you finish 2nd which in itself is by no means a given), if you think this current level is his ceiling then you may aswell priotise the cups.
 

Water Melon

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Would you take finishing second for 3 years in a row without a trophy, or finishing 3rd or 4th for 3 years but with a couple of EL cups?
 

roonster09

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He's obviously right.

But people will interpret the statement as: "We don't have to win trophies".
He said winning trophies is important and players have to cope with the pressure and expectations. He even said about prioritising games, sacrificing league position for cup run. It's just people take everything out of context. What he said is true. League is always the biggest test and shows consistency and progress.
 

tomaldinho1

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Just you watch those who defended Poch for the exact same comments tear Ole a new one
Only if you consider Spurs under Poch and United under Ole teams with the same level of potential surely?

I believe he was misquoted anyway but we need to stop immediately turning every thread an Ole versus {insert manager here}, even if the OP was a bit baity in how they did it. I don't really care what Ole says as long as we win things - top four looks safe now the buffer to fifth is padded out so I hope we try for the FA cup at least. Not bothered about the EL. I'd rather top four and see really good attacking football above both though!
 

Shane88

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We got rid of the Liverpool fans this season but the Bundesliga fans have decided to take their place as resident pests.
 

Ekeke

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Pretty sure players want to win trophies in their career. They dont care about their managers, its for them
 

Chesterlestreet

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There was a time when managers words were taken exactly for what they are - words designed to take the pressure off or motivated their squad.

It seems nowadays, their words are taken as gospel and used to judge their character.
That is absolutely true in general.

But in this particular case, what he says can be taken as gospel: he recognizes a basic truth, namely that winning the odd cup is not proof that we're back where we want to be.

People will misinterpret his words, though - whether deliberately or not. But what he actually says is pretty clear.