Ole Gunnar Solskjær has said Manchester United may find it difficult not to make him their permanent manager at the end of the season if his team continue to play in the style of Sir Alex Ferguson’s best sides.
Solskjær has won all four of his matches with an attack-first approach and could make it five when United host Reading in the FA Cup on Saturday. Solskjær has been appointed on an interim basis until a full-time replacement for José Mourinho is found, yet the 45-year-old wants the position on a long-term basis and he outlined what may move Ed Woodward, the executive vice-chairman, and the owners, the Glazers, to offer it to him.
Solskjær said: “If we get to the summer and people are talking about the way Manchester United are playing. The style we’re playing – [if] it reminds us of Sir Alex’s team. It has to start with the way we play, because results you cannot control. You can control how you approach the game and how you play. And of course trophies. If you can get to the final of the FA Cup and get a trophy [that might be a factor]. Let’s see in May if it’s [my tenure is] a success or not.”
Solskjær believes he is the right man for United despite overseeing Cardiff’s City relegation to the Championship in 2013-14.
“I did whatever I could at Cardiff but it was not the right fit for me or them,” he said, before pointing to Molde, the club he is due to return to in May for the 2019 season in Norway. “That’s just how football is. Molde fits me very well, Man United fits me very well, because it’s in me. It’s in your personality, it’s ingrained in you. I understand the club. I thought I could go into Cardiff but different clubs have different cultures, different playing styles and philosophies.”
After playing Reading Solskjær takes United to Dubai for a week of warm-weather training, before the trip to Tottenham next Sunday.
“We can get fitter and we have to do that through the training sessions here but Dubai is a good chance because now is the first time we get a week of work together,” he said. “The ones who have not been in the squad have worked on their fitness. I still have pictures in my mind every January the gaffer [Ferguson] with the stopwatch and he’s timing us – all those runs we did. That stood us in good stead towards the end of the season, so it is a time to work hard even though we’ve got plenty of games, we need to work.”
Solskjær is yet to have any discussions regarding signings in the transfer window. “I’m happy with squad I’ve got,” he said. “I don’t expect anyone to come in but if the club have targeted and identified a few and I think they might fit here I’ll give my thumbs up but it’s not just my decision.”
Paul Pogba is expected to miss Reading’s visit because of a knock, while Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sánchez will start.
