Tag: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

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OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER SIGNS NEW MANCHESTER UNITED DEAL

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has signed a contract that will keep him at Old Trafford until 2024, the club announced Saturday.

The Norwegian’s previous deal was due to run out in 2022, but United have agreed to fresh terms to extend his stay as manager. He has signed a three-year contract with the option of another year.

“Everyone knows the feeling I have for this club, and I am delighted to have signed this new contract,” Solskjaer said in a statement. “It is an exciting time for Manchester United, we have built a squad with a good balance of youth and experienced players that are hungry for success.

“I have a fantastic coaching team around me, and we are all ready to take that next step on our journey.

“Manchester United wants to be winning the biggest and best trophies and that’s what we are all striving for. We have improved, both on and off the pitch, and that will continue over the coming seasons. I can’t wait to get out in front of a packed Old Trafford and get this campaign started.”

The announcement comes a day after United confirmed the £72.9 million signing of Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund on a five-year contract until 2026, with the option of another year.

Solskjaer, 48, took over at Old Trafford — initially as caretaker following the departure of Jose Mourinho — in 2018. He was appointed to the role permanently in March 2019 — signing a three-year contract — after winning 14 of his first 19 games in charge.

“Ole and his staff have worked tirelessly putting the foundations in place for long-term success on the pitch,” executive vice chairman Ed Woodward said.

“The results of that have become increasingly visible over the past two seasons and we are all looking forward to seeing this exciting team develop further in the years ahead.

“What is especially pleasing is the way this progress has been achieved with a blend of young, homegrown talent and top-class recruits, playing attacking football in the best traditions of Manchester United. We are more confident than ever that, under Ole’s leadership, we are heading in the right direction.”

Solskjaer has won 84 of his 151 games as United boss and led the team to a second-place finish in the Premier League last season as well as the Europa League final, where they lost on penalties to Villarreal after a 1-1 draw.

He scored 126 goals in 366 games as a player for United, winning six Premier League titles and the 1999 Champions League.

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MAN UNITED CLOSING IN ON VARANE DEAL

Manchester United are close to finalizing a deal for Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane, sources say.

The France international, whose contract at Bernabeu is due to expire in June 2022, is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s top defensive target and sources have said that United are ready to move for the 28-year-old after receiving encouragement that Madrid are prepared to negotiate a realistic fee for the player.

United will complete their first major piece of transfer business this summer by signing Borussia Dortmund and England forward Jadon Sancho for £72.9 million ($100m) once the 21-year-old’s involvement at Euro 2020 comes to a conclusion, but a move for an experienced defender is the next issue to be addressed by football director John Murtough.

A source at Manchester United confirmed there had been “some discussions” regarding Varane, but added that no time frame for a transfer is in place.

United had been considering Villarreal’s defender Pau Torres as an alternative, but efforts to sign Varane have now been stepped up following France’s surprise exit from Euro 2020 in the wake of Tuesday’s round-of-16 defeat against Switzerland.

Despite Varane’s diminishing contract, Madrid had initially valued the centre-half at €70m ($83m) — a figure that United regarded as too high for a player entering the final year of his contract.

But with Madrid needing to offload players to fund a rebuild of Carlo Ancelotti’s squad, United are confident that a deal can be done for a fee in the region of €50m ($59m).

Madrid could use the money raised by the departure of Varane to move for Torres, who has a €65m ($77m) release clause at Europa League winners Villarreal.

The 24-year-old has impressed for Spain at Euro 2020 and with Varane set to follow Sergio Ramos out of the Bernabeu — Ramos is leaving as a free agent — Madrid need reinforcements at the back.

Madrid’s interest in Torres could be placed on hold for 12 months, however, if the Spanish club opt instead to pursue moves for Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappe.

Madrid’s financial position is complicated, and a “galactico” signing would mean Torres would have to wait until 2022.

Sources told ESPN the defender remains a Madrid target though, “whether it’s for now or for next year,” and Torres’ preference would be to stay in Spain rather than try the Premier League.

Villarreal have also received interest in star forward Gerard Moreno, but the club are in a healthy financial state and do not need to offload players this summer.

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SOLSKJAER TO GET NEW CONTRACT, TRANSFER BACKING DESPITE UNITED’S FINAL FAILURE

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be backed with a new contract and summer signings in the transfer market despite Manchester United finishing the season without a trophy.

United disappointed in the Europa League final this week but the campaign is seen by the club’s board as progress after finishing second in the Premier League and reaching their first final under Solskjaer.

The Norwegian (48) has one season left on his current deal and will open talks over a three-year extension. He’ll also be supported with up to four signings to bolster his squad in an attempt to close the gap with champions Manchester City.

Jadon Sancho is Solskjaer’s primary target as a wide forward, which is a key position to strengthen. The United boss also like a striker, young central midfielder and a defender.

Borussia Dortmund are understood to be desperate to sell this summer to raise money, while a list of outgoings could be headed by the potential sale of either David De Gea or Dean Henderson, with both goalkeepers understood to be unhappy at the prospect of starting next season as number 2.

Sancho (21) was a target a year ago but a deal could not be struck with Dortmund, who refused to lower his price from £108m.

The England forward is expected to leave Westfalenstadion this summer for a lower fee. Aston Villa forward Jack Grealish is also admired by United, but bringing Sancho back to England is Solskjaer’s preference.

The market has been altered by Harry Kane wanting to leave Tottenham but Daniel Levy is expected to fight to keep him. Southampton’s Danny Ings has been among the other players United have looked at, despite Ings being a former employee of United’s prime rivals Liverpool.

United would like to bring in a young central midfielder, one in the mould of Rennes’ Eduardo Camavinga, but it would be a player for the future rather than to immediately make an impact.

That, and other business, will be conducted according to United’s “transfer by committee” policy, one which will be headed by Ed Woodward despite him resigning in the wake of last month’s European Super League debacle.

Woodward will remain at the helm of United’s transfer plans for as long as he is in position as the club’s executive vice-chairman with his departure date still currently planned for the end of 2021.

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OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER POSITIVE ABOUT MAGUIRE’S FITNESS FOR EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists both he and Harry Maguire are “positive” that the Manchester United captain will be fit to lead his side out for the Europa League final.

United face Villarreal in Gdansk next week looking to win the competition for the second time in four years.

Maguire has been a mainstay of the United side since moving from Leicester but suffered an ankle injury in last week’s win at Aston Villa and faces a race against time to be fit for the final – but Solskjaer plans to give his skipper as long as possible.

“He’s making progress, but we’ve consciously taken the route of not testing him out too early, too quickly, because we don’t want to aggravate something,” Solskjaer said.

“Harry wants this so much, so he doesn’t want to take any risks either.

“When I spoke to him this morning, he was quite positive. But, naturally, the day after it happened we were all down.

“But we saw early on or decided we have to focus, have to be positive and think that you’re going to make it until you have to say ‘no’. I’ve always been an optimist, so we’re positive.”

With Champions League football already assured for next season through the Premier League, the Red Devils can play without the burden of needing to beat their LaLiga rivals to return to Europe’s top table.

But Solskjaer will be aiming to mastermind a victory in Poland and land his first piece of silverware as United boss.

To do that he will strive to pick his strongest side – whether Maguire makes it or not – admitting he will take a leaf out of Sir Alex Ferguson’s book and have individual conversations with those players who do not make the cut.

Solskjaer famously came off the bench and scored the last-gasp winner in the Champions League final win over Bayern Munich in 1999 to complete the Treble for United and pinpointed another moment when Ferguson made special dispensation to talk to his players.

“It’s always difficult and the human side is you want everyone to get this experience,” he said, when asked if he faced some difficult conversations with his squad.

“Then you have to pick XI. That’s just the nature of the job that you have to make some tough decisions and stand by them.

“There are a couple of games left for me to finalise what the XI in the final will be.

“You’ll have to sit down, of course, individually, and I remember Sir Alex sat me down, he came to my hotel room to explain why I didn’t play the semi-final against Bayer Leverkusen and we sat there for 45 minutes. We had a good conversation and I still felt I had a contribution to make and that I was important in his team.

“All my players know they have been important this season. We couldn’t get to a final and second place in the league without everyone’s contribution every day. They’ve been competitive but very supportive as well.”

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OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER PLEADS FANS TO LET LIVERPOOL CLASH HOLD

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has urged Manchester United supporters to let Thursday’s Premier League fixture with Liverpool go ahead by keeping any planned protests peaceful.

The original game on May 2 was postponed after fans demonstrating against the owners, the Glazer family, entered Old Trafford and surrounded the team hotel.

According to reports, protests have been planned when Liverpool visit Old Trafford on Thursday but Solskjaer said his players want the chance to beat Jurgen Klopp’s side.

“Security measures are being looked at and I hope we can keep the protests, if there are protests, keep them down to loud voices and nothing violent,” Solskjaer said.

“We want to listen, the players want to play the game, we’re playing Liverpool and of course we want to beat Liverpool and we want to beat Leicester so we’re going to do everything we can for our fans to celebrate what we’re doing on the pitch.”

Greater Manchester Police said at least 12 officers were injured during the protests on May 2.

Security has been increased around Old Trafford ahead of games against Leicester City and Liverpool this week with barricades erected across the forecourt in front of the East Stand. Police presence at the stadium is also set to be significantly increased.

Sources say the club have also reviewed travel arrangements for the players ahead of the games, including using decoy buses to make sure they can be transported to the stadium safely and on time.

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OLE GUNNAR SOLKSJAER DENIES BRUNO FERNANDEZ IS TIRED AND NEEDS REST.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer dismissed suggestions that Bruno Fernandes is tired and needs a break following the Manchester United star’s ineffective display against Liverpool.

The 26-year-old hit the ground running after arriving from Sporting Lisbon last January, scoring 19 goals and providing 14 assists in just 32 Premier League appearances.

Fernandes’ Player of the Month award for December was a record-breaking fourth of the year, yet the midfielder has failed to scale the same heights in the opening weeks of 2021.

The playmaker was below par in Sunday’s 0-0 draw at Liverpool – something pointed out by former United skipper Roy Keane – but Solskjaer does not believe the frantic festive schedule has taken its toll on the Portuguese.

His form is very good,” the United boss said. “He was just voted Player of the month. He’s not tired. No chance.

He is one of the players who runs and covers the ground in every single game. Very good at recovering, very good at recharging his batteries.

“If he’d scored his free-kick or just had a little air on the ball when Luke (Shaw) put the cross in, he would have been lauded as the best player in the Premier League again.

“Since he’s come in, he’s been absolutely immense. No, he’s not tired. If I ask him there’s absolutely no chance he’ll say he’s tired.

“He’s expected to create goals, score goals and sometimes the margins are against him.

“That free-kick, I saw that one in! There was a couple of passes that he plays through and it’s just marginal as to whether the player was on or off.

“So he’s always on the verge of creating something, even when he loses the ball, and that’s the position I want him in and that’s what he’s been told to do. He has to be the creative one. I want him to play the passes he sees.”

Fernandes could well play a key role for United on Wednesday as Solskjaer leads his table-topping side to improving Fulham, with the Norwegian waiting to see if there are any unwanted surprises regarding his options.

“Well, we’ve not got test results from Covid yet and that’s almost 30 hours ago since we did the testing, so hopefully we get them soon,” Solskjaer said.

“Everyone trained this morning more or less. Brandon (Williams) and Phil Jones didn’t train and the rest were on the pitch.”

United’s ability to rotate and maintain fitness during such a frantic period has been key to their recent rise.

Solskjaer has underlined the importance of maintaining that advantageous strength in depth this month, meaning the Norwegian will have to be careful when deciding who can follow Timothy Fosu-Mensah out of the club.

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UNITED DIDN’T EXPLOIT LIVERPOOL’S INJURY WOES- OGS

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer felt his side missed an opportunity to end Liverpool’s long unbeaten home league record after failing to “pounce” on their injury problems.

With no fit centre-backs again, the hosts fielded midfield duo Fabinho and Jordan Henderson in the centre of their defence but the pair were not really exposed, even if goalkeeper Alisson Becker had to make two good saves to keep out Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba in the goalless draw.

The top-of-the-table clash failed to live up to its billing and there was not even a penalty incident never mind a controversy, one of the major points of debate leading up to the fixture, to talk about over the course of 90 minutes.

But Solskjaer admits United left Anfield disappointed they were not able to open up a six-point gap over their arch-rivals at the top.

“They are a good side and they have some injury problems but we didn’t pounce on that,” he said. “I felt we grew into the game and got stronger and stronger and were closer to winning.

“We were a bit disappointed in the performance, not just the result.

“We didn’t do well enough to cause them problems in the first half but we defended well and they didn’t create too many chances.

We know we have players who can win you a game in the blink of a second and Bruno and Paul almost did.

“But I think everyone was a bit disappointed with the way we started the game but that is a good feeling to have that we were disappointed in the performance.”

Although Liverpool’s long unbeaten home league run was extended to 68 games they failed to properly test David De Gea in the visitors’ goal and for the first time since March 2005 the Reds have failed to score in three consecutive league matches.

Manager Jurgen Klopp insists he was happy with the performance as chances are still being created – they had 18 shots but only three were on target – and he is confident the goals will return.

We have a point more than before the game,” he said. “I think the performance was good enough to win it but to win a game you have to score goals and we didn’t do that, so that’s why we had that result.

“There is nothing fundamentally different, it is just the result is different.

“We try and score and we try not to not score. We have not to worry about it but we obviously have to ignore the fact and hope it will be good again.

“We did that, but the only possibility we have is to create situations and be ready to fail and do it again.

That is a massive different to when you are flying, because then you deal with the missed chances better.

“I saw my team playing tonight a really good team with a clear idea with super passes and great counter-pressing and great desire to score and we didn’t score.

“We will create chances and we will score. It is not as if we decide we will score a goal and now we will do it.

“I will help as much as I can to change the situation.”

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OGS GIVES TRIPLE FITNESS NEWS AHEAD CHELSEA TIE.

Man United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has delivered a promising injury update ahead of his side’s clash against Chelsea.

Harry Maguire, Edinson Cavani, and Mason Greenwood are expected to be available for Manchester United against Chelsea.

None of the trio were included in the matchday squad for Tuesday night’s Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain for differing reasons.

Maguire missed the game through injury, as did Greenwood who also sat out last weekend’s 4-1 win over Newcastle United which had been described as a ‘niggle’.

Meanwhile, Cavani – an arrival at Old Trafford on transfer deadline day – only started training with his new teammates on Sunday and stayed behind as the rest of the squad travelled to France.

But in a huge boost to United, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is hoping to have all three available for the big game against Chelsea.

“I hope and expect all three of them to be available for selection,” he said in his pre-match press conference.

“Of course we’ve got a training session this morning which is the last chance of preparation, but they’ve all got a chance, all of them.

“Edinson needs to tick all the boxes that he’s gone through in his programme to be ready and make an impact.

“I’ll have a discussion with him today, as well as with Mason and Harry.”

With Anthony Martial suspended after being sent-off in United’s 6-1 defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur before the October international break, Cavani could be in line to make his debut.

If so, he could come up against Thiago Silva – his former teammate at PSG – and he’s already sent a message to the Blues defender.

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SPURS DEFEAT MY WORST DAY AT UNITED – OGS

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said Manchester United’s 6-1 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur was his worst-ever day at the club before condemning Spurs forward Erik Lamela for his contribution to Anthony Martial’s first-half sending off.

United have now lost both home games in the Premier League this season, conceding nine goals in the process, after being humiliated by Jose Mourinho’s Spurs.

And United manager Solskjaer who played at Old Trafford from 1996 to 2007 and has been manager since 2018, said he has not endured a worse day during his time with the club.

It’s a horrible feeling, the worst day I’ve had as a Manchester United manager and player,” Solskjaer said. “You don’t win games of football by making individual mistakes, errors, making a performance like that.

“It’s alarming, nowhere near good enough. I hold my hand up. It’s my decision to pick the team and as a squad it’s not good enough for Manchester United.

“When you have a defeat like this, which has happened at the club before, you’ve just got to look yourself in the mirror.”

United were already 2-1 behind when Martial was sent off by referee Anthony Taylor on 29 minutes for slapping Lamela while defending a corner.

Lamela’s reaction prompted ridicule from Solskjaer.

“This is like a very two-edged sword for me,” Solskjaer said. “Anthony, well done for not going down when the lad struck you in the throat, but then you shouldn’t react to it like that with a slap in his throat.

“If you do that there’s always a chance they are going to send you off, but come on, if that was my son I’d put him in the attic for two weeks without food. You don’t go down like that, at all. It’s an absolute joke.

“If that was one of my players I would absolutely hang him up to dry because you don’t go down like that.”

United defender Luke Shaw suggested he and his teammates gave up following Martial’s red card.

“It was a lack of concentration and then a mistake, another mistake, another mistake,” he said. “We switched off. It really hurts.

“Manchester United shouldn’t lose in this manner. It really hurts, it’s embarrassing and we’ve let a lot of people down. We’ve let ourselves down and the staff down. We need to look in the mirror, we are nowhere near it at the moment. Maybe it’s lucky that we’ve got a break now.

“When we went down to 10 men maybe we gave up, there wasn’t that character on the pitch. We were too quiet and naive. There was many mistakes, we need to do more. “It’s embarrassing. I was embarrassed on the pitch. We need a long hard look at ourselves.”

Meanwhile, Mourinho showed no sympathy to his former club over the red card, adding: “I didn’t watch it. Maybe later I will. If someone can cry about the VAR decisions it is Tottenham and if someone cannot cry about VAR it is Manchester United for sure.

“I don’t know, the only thing I know is we played extremely well. I told my players that a good result here would be to win and we did that.”

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MANCHESTER UNITED DIDN’T GIVE ME MORE TIME LIKE THEY DID SOLSKJAER – MOYES

West Ham United manager David Moyes have said that his Manchester United counterpart Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is building an exciting team having been given time on the job, something the Scot felt he was not afforded at Old Trafford.

Moyes, who replaced long-term United manager Alex Ferguson in 2013, was dismissed after only 10 months in charge.

“Ole had a difficult start, but the difference between Ole and me is that he’s being given time. He’s bringing players in from the academy, which United have always stood for,” Moyes told a news conference.

“They have got really exciting young players of their own now… It’s a wonderful club and a brilliant place to be, and the biggest club in the world, for me. It’s always a special place to go and I’m looking forward to going back.”

Solskjaer’s United were on an unbeaten run of 19 matches in all competitions before losing to Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals on Sunday.

West Ham have won their last two league games, scoring seven goals to climb to 16th on 37 points, with two rounds remaining and Premier League survival in sight.

Moyes said Czech midfielder Tomas Soucek, who joined on loan from Slavia Prague in January, was part of his future plans.

“He’s a West Ham player, simple as that,” Moyes said.

The Hammers forced United to a draw on Wednesday night, making Solskjaer’s men wait till the final game day to earn a champions league spot.