Solskjaer press conference
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has arrived ahead of a press conference via Zoom this morning.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has arrived ahead of a press conference via Zoom this morning.
Solskjær press conference vs Southampton (H)
- Thread starter SirAnderson
- Start date
On Jack Charlton
“Yes of course. As you say, very sad news and a legend of football and a gentlemen. I watched Norway play Ireland in the World Cup in 1994, but he was always so, so passionate when he was speaking and it is sad to hear.”
“Yes of course. As you say, very sad news and a legend of football and a gentlemen. I watched Norway play Ireland in the World Cup in 1994, but he was always so, so passionate when he was speaking and it is sad to hear.”
On the excitement about Mason Greenwood
“You know, at that age you've got so much energy, you've got no fear, you just want to go out and play football. If we have a day off, he'll go and play football with his mates. So, I'm not worried about Mason this season. We've just got to look after him of course in his whole career. He's a fantastic boy to work with, he just loves playing football at the moment. He gets results and rewards for his hard work.”
“You know, at that age you've got so much energy, you've got no fear, you just want to go out and play football. If we have a day off, he'll go and play football with his mates. So, I'm not worried about Mason this season. We've just got to look after him of course in his whole career. He's a fantastic boy to work with, he just loves playing football at the moment. He gets results and rewards for his hard work.”
Look at him smiling. Who does he even think he is?
More on Mason Greenwood and whether he has surpassed Ole's expectations this season
“Not really. We know what he's capable of and we always trusted him to be a part of this squad and chip in with performances and goals. Of course we see it every day. We've seen it, I've seen it since I came to the club 18 months ago. He's just a natural footballer and when you put natural, good footballers with better footballers that he's used to playing with, that'll just create and give him more opportunities to show his qualities. So the club, they know what they're doing when they're educating people and players.”
“Not really. We know what he's capable of and we always trusted him to be a part of this squad and chip in with performances and goals. Of course we see it every day. We've seen it, I've seen it since I came to the club 18 months ago. He's just a natural footballer and when you put natural, good footballers with better footballers that he's used to playing with, that'll just create and give him more opportunities to show his qualities. So the club, they know what they're doing when they're educating people and players.”
On the benefit to have the team playing together regularly
“Yeah, there are so many things that you have to consider when you manage a team. And of course there's a squad, we've got players here that are champing at the bit, they want to play, but you've got players who are in the rhythm and keep on playing well. So there's less work on the training ground, obviously, so there's loads of decisions to be made, but they make it easier by playing well and performing well and looking after themselves. So if we don't get too many injuries, there's no reason to change too much when you're doing well.”
“Yeah, there are so many things that you have to consider when you manage a team. And of course there's a squad, we've got players here that are champing at the bit, they want to play, but you've got players who are in the rhythm and keep on playing well. So there's less work on the training ground, obviously, so there's loads of decisions to be made, but they make it easier by playing well and performing well and looking after themselves. So if we don't get too many injuries, there's no reason to change too much when you're doing well.”
Pressed him a little on the ramifications of making/not making champions league football. Will be interesting to see what our ins and outs are. Priority has to be RW and CB I would think.
On planning for next season
“There's quite a lot of planning going on. When do we start the league? That is obviously determined by how far do we go in Europe. So you can't really decide on the training programmes. There are so many small decisions, and of course transfers, that's sometimes out of our hands as well because if the team is going well, what do we need, what do we not need, do you get injuries? That's just the way of working in this job, that you've always got a plan for different scenarios. But now, the uncertainty of dates, how much holiday can you give them, how will next season look like, it's still a little all up in the air.”
“There's quite a lot of planning going on. When do we start the league? That is obviously determined by how far do we go in Europe. So you can't really decide on the training programmes. There are so many small decisions, and of course transfers, that's sometimes out of our hands as well because if the team is going well, what do we need, what do we not need, do you get injuries? That's just the way of working in this job, that you've always got a plan for different scenarios. But now, the uncertainty of dates, how much holiday can you give them, how will next season look like, it's still a little all up in the air.”
On qualify for the Champions League and if it will have a dramatic effect on the Club
“I don't think it's dramatic decisions. The word you said there, I don't think the club would either panic or suddenly go crazy with plans that we've already talked about for the years to come. You do have to have a long-term plan, but of course in the short-term maybe some decisions will be easier to make if or if not we get to the Champions League.”
“I don't think it's dramatic decisions. The word you said there, I don't think the club would either panic or suddenly go crazy with plans that we've already talked about for the years to come. You do have to have a long-term plan, but of course in the short-term maybe some decisions will be easier to make if or if not we get to the Champions League.”
Does it feel a little bit like the old days when United were on the mission for the title?
“If we were challenging for the trophies maybe I would say. It’s just keep developing the culture, keep doing the right things. You just have to go one day at a time, one game at a time in the training ground and with the culture we’re trying to build. Every day is a chance to either break or make that culture.”
“If we were challenging for the trophies maybe I would say. It’s just keep developing the culture, keep doing the right things. You just have to go one day at a time, one game at a time in the training ground and with the culture we’re trying to build. Every day is a chance to either break or make that culture.”
On Southampton
“Well, first of all, Southampton is a very fine football club with traditions. You can see it’s a proper football club. I wasn’t expecting any changes and I’ve followed Ralph’s time there and you know what he’s doing. I’ve got huge respect for the way they have turned it around. They have it, call it a German [Austrian], aggressive, rock-and-roll style of football. It’s direct, it’s high energy. It’s hard work but it’s difficult to play against. If you want to be a part of his team, you've got to be able to run 10, 11 or 12K. You've got to be able to sprint. We’ve watched quite a few games and I really enjoy watching them because it’s high entertainment and it’s high energy all the time.”
“Well, first of all, Southampton is a very fine football club with traditions. You can see it’s a proper football club. I wasn’t expecting any changes and I’ve followed Ralph’s time there and you know what he’s doing. I’ve got huge respect for the way they have turned it around. They have it, call it a German [Austrian], aggressive, rock-and-roll style of football. It’s direct, it’s high energy. It’s hard work but it’s difficult to play against. If you want to be a part of his team, you've got to be able to run 10, 11 or 12K. You've got to be able to sprint. We’ve watched quite a few games and I really enjoy watching them because it’s high entertainment and it’s high energy all the time.”
On brilliant attacking display and winning
“Well, Manchester United have always been about winning, of course it is because you want to win trophies. But it’s also about our fans and the way we approach the game. The way we approach football, that you play with pace, you play with power, you play with no fear, you take risks and you’ve got the players who have got qualities. That’s just the DNA of the football club. Of course I’m happy when you score goals and when you don't concede, but it’s always been built on a strong foundation. You know, when we had [Gary] Pallister and [Steve] Bruce, or [Jaap] Stam and [Ronny] Johnsen with fantastic keepers behind them. We had the engine room with Roy Keane and Bryan Robson. They laid the foundations for the forwards to show their skills, so long may it continue. We have just got to take it one game at a time.”
“Well, Manchester United have always been about winning, of course it is because you want to win trophies. But it’s also about our fans and the way we approach the game. The way we approach football, that you play with pace, you play with power, you play with no fear, you take risks and you’ve got the players who have got qualities. That’s just the DNA of the football club. Of course I’m happy when you score goals and when you don't concede, but it’s always been built on a strong foundation. You know, when we had [Gary] Pallister and [Steve] Bruce, or [Jaap] Stam and [Ronny] Johnsen with fantastic keepers behind them. We had the engine room with Roy Keane and Bryan Robson. They laid the foundations for the forwards to show their skills, so long may it continue. We have just got to take it one game at a time.”
What have you made of Marcus Rashford since the restart?
“I’m very happy with him. He’s physically coping well with the games. He’s mixing up his game; he’s making defenders think. He runs in behind, he comes short, he can play a pass, he can play and run, he’s got individual skills. So, Marcus has got all the attributes to be a top a centre forward - or a forward. You can see our players suddenly pop up on the right, Mason [Greenwood] on the left, Anthony [Martial] on the left or right. You want that rotation between them but also, sometimes, have the discipline to stick out wide and create space for others and make runs to create space for others. Sometimes you get an assist from me, in my head, when you make a run to create space for others and we do see it.”
“I’m very happy with him. He’s physically coping well with the games. He’s mixing up his game; he’s making defenders think. He runs in behind, he comes short, he can play a pass, he can play and run, he’s got individual skills. So, Marcus has got all the attributes to be a top a centre forward - or a forward. You can see our players suddenly pop up on the right, Mason [Greenwood] on the left, Anthony [Martial] on the left or right. You want that rotation between them but also, sometimes, have the discipline to stick out wide and create space for others and make runs to create space for others. Sometimes you get an assist from me, in my head, when you make a run to create space for others and we do see it.”
On the development of the season from the start to now
“Well we’ve had an up-and-down season. We started fantastically well against Chelsea with a great win. We played some very good football. Then we got a setback and of course I think the players have stuck to the task in hard times, difficult times, believed in the coaches, believed in what we are trying to do. They trusted us when the results haven't gone great, that we just want to keep on working. And now the results are coming and the excitement is coming. Now it’s time to keep your feet on the ground: keep working, keep doing the right things, don’t believe the hype or the all the praise. That’s not their job, their job is to perform when they play - but then don’t believe in all the criticism when you don’t play well. Trust your team-mates and trust yourself. Now we can see the end is not too far away. It’s a strange one because we’ve been out for so long, but now there’s only four games left of the season, so the goal is getting close.”
“Well we’ve had an up-and-down season. We started fantastically well against Chelsea with a great win. We played some very good football. Then we got a setback and of course I think the players have stuck to the task in hard times, difficult times, believed in the coaches, believed in what we are trying to do. They trusted us when the results haven't gone great, that we just want to keep on working. And now the results are coming and the excitement is coming. Now it’s time to keep your feet on the ground: keep working, keep doing the right things, don’t believe the hype or the all the praise. That’s not their job, their job is to perform when they play - but then don’t believe in all the criticism when you don’t play well. Trust your team-mates and trust yourself. Now we can see the end is not too far away. It’s a strange one because we’ve been out for so long, but now there’s only four games left of the season, so the goal is getting close.”
The shit this place used to give him for smiling.
Very good point Samid. Solskjaer should not think he is something. He should not be that confident. He is not worthy of that. It is really annoying. Now I need to go and take my pills.