Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on managing Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson and his coaching philosophy

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sat down with Sky Sports' Patrick Davison to chat managing Manchester United, the club's culture, Sir Alex Ferguson, and his coaching philosophy.

The former striker has taken caretaker charge of Manchester United after the departure of Jose Mourinho earlier this month and will stay in the role until the end of June, when the club are looking to appoint a permanent manager.

Solskjaer sat down with Sky Sports reporter Davison to chat all things United. Read on to see what he had to say...

'I'm enjoying every minute'

It is really enjoyable. You're coming in and see these players here and the quality I have to work with, of course you have to enjoy it. I've got to say, I'm enjoying every single minute of it.

From Tuesday to Thursday when I met the boys for the first time, you're thinking 'how can I make an effect as quickly as possible' and you're excited because I only knew three or four of these lads personally. I've met most of them and said hi but I've got my own view. Me and Mike [Phelan] just quickly sat down together and spoke, we had a meeting on the first day and then onwards, you feel dead chilled.

Tactics is one side of it but we haven't changed many of the tactics. We've just asked them to go out and express themselves because we need to see what they're capable of as well for when we get to the bigger games.
Tactically, we'll get time to work more, we get weeks now in January to work on the other side of it because it's all been about us in the first couple of games.

They've been games that we feel we can go and dominate and tweak it just a little bit defensively. No disrespect to those two teams that we've played, but now my job was to tell them about the mindset that Manchester United teams do have when they go into games.

A permanent role?

My job is for the next five months, because I'm going to leave them to someone else when they come in... That's the plan and that's what my job is at the moment, it runs out at the end of May - actually the end of June but we don't play many games in June - so my job is to affect the players on what it is all about at Manchester United.

Of course, results and all that stuff too but I have to make sure I guide them and help them so in a year or two when I sit down and see these players perform again and keep winning trophies, I might feel a part of this.

You're always ambitious of course, but as I've told Ed [Woodward] and the owners, I'm here to do as well and I can and if in May, you decide someone else will be coming in, then fantastic and if you decide it's me, I'm sure we will agree.

'Sir Alex will sit in the chair'

In a sense it is strange being in Sir Alex's role, because when you go into the corridor and knock on his door, he's in the chair. Now, I'm in it. Whenever he's visiting us, he'll be sitting in that chair I reckon because you never think differently about the boss. He's what I've always had as my boss and he's the one you look up to and once in a while ask a question or for advice.

'There is a culture here'

Obviously you speak about expectations, what standards we have at Manchester United on the pitch but there is also responsibility when you're a Manchester United player off the pitch. I'm not going to go into details but we have norms and there is a culture here. Sometimes the best rules are the ones that are written in the walls.

When you've got players pulling other players in line again when they step out of it, you've got two or three bearers of the culture who say 'we don't do that here, this is how we do things'. I know there is talk about a lack of leaders but there are players with real leadership in them.

Of course, when you look on the pitch, there are winners there. We've performed really well, all the front players have scored or assisted and created goals. We've done really well at the back, Phil [Jones] and Victor [Lindelof] have really played well together so it is looking good.

When you end up playing for Manchester United, that means somewhere along the line, you must've made a good decision to be the best you can be. No one will just float through life and end up at Manchester United. You've got to have discipline, of course the talent, and desire and the hunger inside you to become the best.

Then it's about making these remember how they got there, not being tainted by money or fame or whatever, it's football and that's their life until they walk out of these doors. When you're at Manchester United, you realise when you've finished playing - I did anyway - what a life it was.

They are a group of very, very good footballers. Some of them haven't really been at Manchester United long enough to know what it means to be here. We haven't looked back for one second. It's not about what's been going on because it doesn't matter. What matters now if that me, Mike, Michael [Carrick] and Kieran [McKenna] improve them team and then look like a team that we can be proud of when we end the season.

'Players have to take responsibility'

There are different kinds of players. In your career, without having to take the responsibility at times, you won't know how good you can become because when you're in a team, it is easier to say 'well I'm in a good team here with good players so I'll let him have the responsibility'.

When you're in a team, it dilutes your sense of responsibility because you're with so many good players but in the end, when you walk out of the door, you think 'wow, I should have taken more responsibility'. The top players in a team take responsibility for their own performance and for the team, that we all have one goal together, and you can't just float through or you're out the door.

The Solskjaer philosophy

I've been here for 15 years before and of course my football philosophy is driven by what I experienced here. We do go and attack teams, try to dominate games and go into every game believing that we're going to win, although we respect the opposition of course.

It's not like we used to win 5-4 every time with the boss. When we had Jaap [Stam], Ronny [Johnsen], Rio [Ferdinand] and Vida [Nemanja Vidic] at the back, you knew that we could keep a clean sheet, so there is a fine balance there.

And I love seeing players express themselves. It probably comes down to that I experienced more in my football career than I ever believed so I want other players to have the same feeling when they've finished their careers - that means we need to win. We're going to enjoy it but you don't enjoy football if you don't win.

Football nowadays is leaning more and more towards a head coach because the structure is so different, there are so many more people involved. I think the days of the gaffer when he was in charge of absolutely everything, they are gone, but I do make the decisions in and around the place - small decisions, of course.

You've got directors of football and owners who really want an input on how the football should be played but I do call myself a manager still because I've got some great coaches so I don't really do too much of that coaching on the pitch.

If you're on the pitch every single day and the players get to hear your voice every single day, they get fed up. Less is more at times and I try to step back and observe, which I think is the key for me, because I'm going to make the decisions on who is playing, what tactics so you need time to reflect on that and not think about the session tomorrow or how certain things went.

'Always move onto the next one'

I've reflected throughout my career and you don't enjoy not winning. If you don't win, you're not happy and I'm not going to go and smile but if it doesn't matter in five years, why spend five or 10 minutes on being miserable? Move onto the next one. It's the same when you win, move onto the next one. It's history and you've got to make sure you're prepared for the next one.

Credit: Skysports.com

Solskjaer plans De Gea & Martial talks

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer plans to talk David De Gea and Anthony Martial into staying at Manchester United beyond the end of next season.

Both players have had their contracts extended until June 2020 by United vice-chairman Ed Woodward, having failed to agree new long-term deals despite protracted negotiations at the club.

Solskjaer has enjoyed a winning start 'on loan' as United's interim manager since replacing Jose Mourinho but is is due to return to Norwegian side Molde at the end of the campaign.

But having turned down several opportunities to leave United during his 11 seasons as a player at Old Trafford, Solskjaer is keen to convince the current crop to follow suit.

"I know the club want them to sign because they are top quality players," said Solskjaer, who believes he will have an input on any transfers at United during the January window.

"It's down to the players but when you're at Man United there isn't a lot of greener grass on the other side. You are at the best place. It's the biggest club in the world.

"For me, I would hope I can help or guide these players to maybe tip them over to thinking they want to stay at this club.

"If you are a regular at Manchester United, I think you should grasp the opportunity to stay here and become part of the history."

Martial's agent Philippe Lamboley publicly declared Martial wanted to leave United under Jose Mourinho in the summer and said this month the club were far from agreeing a long-term deal.

De Gea has been repeatedly linked with a move to a number of top European clubs, most notably Real Madrid.

"I had loads of offers and possibilities to move but the manager (Ferguson) sat me down and told me I was going to be an important part of his team, his squad and I was going to play enough games," said Solskjaer.

"I felt privileged to play here. I am also stubborn. The club agreed to sell me to Spurs one time and I said 'no, thank you.' My agent wanted me to go, but I knew I was at the best place.

"I wasn't sure the grass was greener somewhere else. I had a period when I wasn't playing. I would get angry. Then he would put me in the team and I would feel a big part of it and important.

"Sir Alex was the best when it came to managing squad players. We're not talking about squad players now, we are talking about top players. If you are a regular at Manchester United, I think you should grasp the opportunity to stay here and become part of the history."

Solskjaer believes Martial can operate as a No 9 or out wide but believes United's priority should be "to get Anthony facing forward".

The 'baby faced assassin', who is best remembered for his winner in the 1999 Champions League final, also says Marcus Rashford has "far more than I did in terms of his physical attributes" but hopes to provide "a little bit of the nous I had inside the box".

"I wasn't born with it," he explained. "I studied finishing, I studied goals, I studied movement. I worked on my mentality because that's key. You will always miss chances but you can't do anything about them once they've gone.

"It's always about the next chance. You have got to be one step ahead as a striker, to create that space you need. My first job here after I finished playing was as a forwards' coach. So I worked with Cristiano (Ronaldo), Wayne (Rooney), Danny Welbeck, (Carlos) Tevez was here. That was a good start for me.

"But my strength was putting the ball in the net and I am sure I can give these boys a little bit of detail into scoring goals. But in terms of talent and physical attributes, the strikers here have got loads more than I had."

Credit: Skysports.com

Manchester United's resurgence continues under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Manchester United's resurgence continued with a thumping 4-1 win over Bournemouth at Old Trafford. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has thrown off the shackles and United are feeling the benefits.

It is only two weeks since Manchester United slumped to the 3-1 loss against Liverpool which saw the axe come down on Jose Mourinho. Two weeks since they allowed their old rivals a scarcely believable total of 36 shots on goal in one of the most staggeringly passive displays in the club's recent history. But the unhappy memories from Anfield are already fading.

It is now three wins out of three and 12 goals scored under caretaker-manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Following the victories over Cardiff and Huddersfield either side of Christmas, Sunday's demolition of Bournemouth put them just three points behind Arsenal and added to a growing sense of optimism that a top-four spot might yet be salvageable.

More than anything, though, their latest victory added to the feel-good factor which had ebbed away under Mourinho. Solskjaer took over with a promise to allow a previously stifled squad to express themselves, and the approach has paid off. The mood around the club is transformed and so is the football. Eric Bailly's red card was only a minor blot on the evening.

United's attacking intent was obvious from the first whistle against Bournemouth. The sterile possession which had become a hallmark of Mourinho's side is no more. Under Solskjaer, United attack with both freedom and conviction. That attitude was typified by Marcus Rashford's brilliant skill and delivery to set up Paul Pogba's fifth-minute opener.

"You talk about Manchester United, how they play traditionally, but sometimes it's not rocket science," observed Jamie Carragher in the Sky Sports commentary box. "It's a centre-forward making that run into the channel, it's looking to play the ball forward every time it's at someone's feet. That is Manchester United."

And that is how it continued. Old Trafford hummed with excitement at the sight of red shirts pouring forward on the counter-attack. When Pogba leapt highest to head home Ander Herrera's cross for the second goal, he was one of three United players in Bournemouth's six-yard box.

Pogba, of course, has been the biggest beneficiary of the change of management. His relationship with Mourinho had become toxic, but with four goals already under Solskjaer, he has now scored as many in his last two Premier League appearances as he managed in his previous 19. He was only the width of the post away from completing his hat-trick.

For the third consecutive game under Solskjaer, Pogba was at the heart of everything United did. The Frenchman only had more than 100 touches in three of his 15 appearances under Mourinho this season, but he has managed it in every game since his departure. His dancing celebrations spoke of a player who is enjoying himself again.

He is not the only one.

Both Rashford and Anthony Martial have been given licence to play on the shoulder of the last defender under Solskjaer and their speed and movement were too much for Bournemouth. Rashford was outstanding in those circumstances for the opener, and it was the same story with Martial for United's third. Having sprung the offside trap, he had the guile to dig out an inch-perfect cross for Rashford with the outside of his boot.

The intensity of United's forward players ran right through the team. Solskjaer had called on them to make it a "high-tempo" game in his pre-match interview with Sky Sports and they certainly managed it. At the end of the 90 minutes, the tracking data showed United had outsprinted Bournemouth, one of the most hard-working sides in the Premier League, by 131 sprints to 127.

It was their second-highest total of the season and continued a trend of Solskjaer's reign so far. Manchester United have gone from averaging 102 sprints per game under Mourinho to 116 under the new man. It represents a dramatic increase of intensity from a group of players who have embraced the change of approach.

The caveat, of course, is that United are yet to come up against truly testing opposition under Solskjaer - that does not come until their trip to Wembley to face Tottenham on January 13 - and it would be foolish to pretend there are not areas still in need of improvement.

Most notably, United remain vulnerable in defence, with Nathan Ake's header before half-time ensuring they are yet to keep a clean sheet under Solskjaer. The Norwegian will wonder how Ake was able to rise so easily above his marker for that goal - and he will also question how David Brooks found the time and space to dribble through United's box to provide the assist.

Bailly's impending suspension is another concern for a backline already depleted by injury, but none of that can take away from what was another cathartic 90 minutes. The Mourinho era is well and truly over. Solskjaer has thrown off the shackles and Manchester United are looking up again.

Pogba: Manchester United are enjoying themselves under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Paul Pogba says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made Manchester United's players enjoy themselves since taking over at Old Trafford.

Pogba has scored four goals in three games since Solskjaer's arrival as interim boss after his double in the 4-1 win over Bournemouth, with the Frenchman's rocky relationship with former manager Jose Mourinho now appearing far behind him.

When asked what the Norwegian had changed since his arrival, Pogba told Sky Sports: "Maybe we have relaxed, realised we are Manchester United and to keep up you need to be on the top of the league.

"It's the reaction of the players, everybody is enjoying themselves and that's what we need. The team need to enjoy their football, work for each other and that's it. That's the result on the pitch."

United have scored almost a third of their Premier League goals this season in the three games since Solskjaer took over - as well as enjoying a 100-per-cent winning record so far.

The side were regularly criticised for their brand of football under Solskjaer's predecessor Mourinho, and Pogba opened up on what has changed under the Norwegian after their third win in eight days.

"It's different," he said. "We won games with the old manager, so it's just a different style of playing. We're more offensive, we create more chances, but we try to play like that.

"It's how we want to play, we want to attack. The manager wants to attack and that's what we are doing."

Credit: Skysports.com

Paul Pogba wears wristband in support of Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly

Paul Pogba said he wore a white wristband on Sunday in support of Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly, who was racially abused at the San Siro on Boxing Day.

The Manchester United midfielder revealed on Instagram the wristband, which had the word 'No' written on, was in tribute to the Napoli defender, who was taunted with monkey chants and racist abuse during his side's defeat to Inter Milan.

Pogba, who scored twice in Manchester United's 4-1 victory over Bournemouth called on football to work harder to stamp out racism in the New Year.

Writing on Instagram, he said: "Well done guys, beautiful way to end the year and an honour handband for Kalidou Koulibaly. In 2019 say NO to racism."

Inter have been ordered to play their next two home matches behind closed doors, with head coach Luciano Spaletti, Napoli coach Carlo Ancelotti and UEFA all condemning the abuse.

Koulibaly was sent off after picking two late bookings, one for a shirt pull and the second for sarcastically clapping the referee's decision.

Napoli fans showed their support of Koulibaly with banners and wearing masks of the Senegalese defender's face during their 3-2 win over Bologna on Saturday.

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Pogba is Man of the Match again

For the second successive game and for the fifth time this season, Paul Pogba was named Manchester United's Man of the Match, following the Reds' 4-1 drubbing of Bournemouth at Old Trafford.

Our influential no.6 picked up 84 per cent of the votes in a poll voted for by fans in our official app, after scoring two goals and assisting another in what was an all-action, accomplished display. Pogba opened the scoring after just five minutes before doubling the lead just past the half-hour mark.

It was the first time he had scored in consecutive games since August and it meant that he had netted four United goals in a row at the famous Stretford End, following his second-half brace against Huddersfield Town on Boxing Day when the supporters also selected him as the Man of the Match.

The runner-up in the Bournemouth poll was Marcus Rashford, who grabbed 16 per cent of the votes in our official app. He got on the scoresheet after a fine team move, just before Nathan Ake pulled a goal back for the visitors in first-half injury time. Pogba later set up second-half substitute Romelu Lukaku to add United’s fourth and final goal in the 72nd minute.

The Frenchman’s victory in our poll was vindicated by the stats which informed us that he had the most shots and shots on target in the game. He also played the most passes in the match and his passing accuracy was ranked the highest among all the players on the pitch.

Pogba's four goals and three assists in the last few weeks have made December his best-ever month for league goal involvements in his Premier League career; he has been involved in 21 top-flight goals in the 2018 calendar year and that's five more than any other central midfielder.

Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, Pogba said: “We needed a win and we had a great performance as well and we are coming back. There is still a long way to go, but to finish the year like that it is beautiful.

“We are Manchester United and we need to keep up and be at the top of the league. [This was] just a reaction of all of the players, everybody enjoying themselves, this is what we need.

“The team needs to enjoy playing football. We work for each other. We want to attack, the manager wants us to attack and that’s what we are doing on the pitch.”

Pogba believes there is still room for improvement, both for him and the team.

“I always want to do more,“ he said, ”but I try not to do too much and play for the team, play it simple.

“We are still far [from the top] and we still want to improve, so there is still a long way to go.”

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Solskjaer: It was a really good performance

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer picked up a third win in three games as Manchester United's caretaker manager, as the Reds swept aside Bournemouth 4-1 at Old Trafford, and the Norwegian was naturally delighted with his team's performance.

He was also pleased with how the Reds managed the game after racking up a comfortable lead, and there were a number of individuals earning his praise, including Victor Lindelof, Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford.

Scroll down to read what Solskjaer had to say to Sky Sports, as well as to reporters in his press conference.

WE MANAGED THE GAME WELL

“In the first half, you go out and attack the game with high tempo, high energy and winning the ball back, but the response to Bournemouth's goal [in first-half injury time] was great. I thought the second half was excellent. We managed the game so much better than we did against Huddersfield for example.”

POGBA COULDN'T HAVE DONE MUCH MORE

“That is a top, top performance from a midfielder because it was all round. His work rate, he was dangerous in the box, he won headers, he won tackles and there was no showboating. It was touch, pass and move. He played an efficient game. And Paul knows he is at his best when he plays that game. There was one flick maybe that he missed half way through the second half which he could have maybe done better, but there is not much more he could have done. We want to see the best out of all the players, we want to see them enjoy themselves and express themselves, but within the framework and how we want the team to play. All of them have really performed up to their top standards.”

RASHFORD'S WORK ETHIC WAS UNBELIEVABLE
“I think Marcus has been different class since I have come in. He has scored two goals now in three games. His work rate is unbelievable. He closes down, chases, runs in behind and his skill for the first goal for Paul today was [brilliant]. The first thing is he holds up the ball up and hasn’t got the right to go past the first defender, but then to go past the second defender... he has got all the potential in the world to be a top, top striker.”

BAILLY'S RED CARD
“Eric [Bailly] knows it is a rash challenge, he doesn’t have to do it. Just stay on your feet. But once in a while, when the boys are excited, we want to win the ball back and sometimes we mistime a challenge. Eric is the first one to accept that he made a mistake.”

DELIGHTED FOR LUKAKU
“He is a good, good target man, but if you tell him to be a target man he will never face the goal. Today he was side on, so he could go in behind or go towards the ball and he has got the attributes of a top striker, but we need to work on his fitness because he has had a few days off, but I am delighted for him even though he was half a yard offside, but it was still a good finish.”

LINDELOF HAS ADAPTED
“He is a cultured, European centre back. He gets on the ball, he passes it really well, he knows when to quicken things up and slow things down. It is different to play in England and he has had time to adapt and he has been excellent in all three games I must say.”

WE ARE LOOKING FOR A CLEAN SHEET
“You always look for improvements. You can’t switch off for one second in this league, you cannot switch off. We looked from the side-line what they were going to do and it happened, a great touch by the kid [David Brooks, who crossed for Nathan Ake's header], but I have to say it was a very, very good performance.

”We are looking for that clean sheet, we are looking for that foundation to let those front four just go and enjoy themselves because when you know you are keeping a clean sheet at the back, it is easier to perform and to create chances, nothing is rushed. It was a really, really good performance. The crowd were enjoying it.

“Now Newcastle is the next one, that’s a challenge, that’s a different kind of test.”

Premier League: Man. United 4 Bournemouth 1

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s barnstorming Manchester United attacking machine sent the Reds into 2019 with another goal fest as the Reds hammered Bournemouth 4-1 at Old Trafford.

United were celebrating New Year early as the Norwegian caretaker manager’s influence saw the Reds add to big wins against Cardiff City and Huddersfield Town to make it 12 goals in his first three Premier League victories in charge.

The Reds' sizzling win was inspired by an impressive goalscoring and creating personal performance from Paul Pogba. He scored twice in the first 45 minutes, to make it four for himself in the Solskjaer era so far, and set up a second-half strike for substitute Romelu Lukaku.

Marcus Rashford also scored but there was a setback for United as Eric Bailly, making his first start for the interim boss, was red carded in the second period.

Solskjaer’s impact had been instant at the beginning of his caretaker reign, against Cardiff pre-Christmas when Marcus Rashford got the Reds off to a rapid start in Wales.

The value of a swift opener had been a rarity for Unted but once again against Bournemouth it was another burst out of the blocks that set Old Trafford alight. Rashford was involved once more, this time with a glorious assist.

The Mancunian is being used more now as a central striker but it was a piece of eye-catching wing trickery that had the crowd on their feet after just five minutes. His lightning footwork bamboozled both Nathan Ake and Diego Rico right under the noses of the Stretford End and Rashford’s cross was seized upon by Paul Pogba as he sprinted in to slide home the first goal.

Old Trafford was rocking to the whole back catalogue of Solskjaer chants as the Reds enjoyed a spell of dominance.

Bournemouth may have been trounced at Wembley on Boxing Day 5-0 by Spurs but they were adventurous and provided a danger on the counter attack. They could have levelled the game in the 26th minute but for yet another brilliant reaction save from David De Gea who managed to block a header from Ake.

But United were relentless going forward and were rewarded again in the 33rd minute when Pogba stretched the lead as he scored his second of the match.

Ander Herrera provided the assist as his floated cross was met with the powerful header by the Frenchman on the edge six-yard area.

Rashford had been a thorn in Bournemouth’s side with his pace, constantly unsettling Eddie Howe’s back line. He got himself onto the scoresheet in the 45th minute. The striker lunged and stretched onto a cute cross delivered by the outside of Martial's right boot and connected at the far post to make it 3-0.

The only thing missing from Solskjaer’s reign has been a clean sheet and just as the Reds were heading into the interval intact, Bournemouth pulled a shock goal back. Defender Ake, who had already been denied once by De Gea, made sure on the second occasion as he headed home from close range.

It was the only blemish on another crowd-pleasing festive half from United.

United were in full swagger mode after the break with Pogba, in particular, dipping into his box of treats.

The influential midfielder was part of a sweeping Reds move in the 65th minute started by Nemanja Matic, helped on by Pogba, only for Asmir Begovic to throw himself at Rashford’s feet as he attempted to swerve past the goalkeeper.

Not long after Solskjaer made his first substitution of the match and it was a fully deserved standing ovation for the terrific Rashford as he was replaced by Romelu Lukaku.

It proved to be an inspired switch by the United caretaker boss because less than two minutes later the Belgian was on the scoresheet. Pogba’s impressive afternoon continued as he lifted a pass into Lukaku’s path and the sub managed to steer the ball home.

Pogba almost got his hat-trick but soon after Lukaku's goal he rapped a shot against the woodwork as the rampant Reds continued to entertain the fans

United were coasting and it was all going smoothly until Eric Bailly was sent off in the 79th minute as the Ivorian launched a scything straight-red tackle on sub Ryan Fraser.

Solskjaer had been preparing to bring on Marouane Fellaini at that point with the Belgian midfielder stripped and ready on the touchline to come on.

However, Bailly’s exit changed the substitution and Phil Jones instead replaced Martial.

Even when reduced to en men, United still eased through the rest of the game to the final whistle to keep the feelgood factor going.

MATCH DETAILS

United: De Gea, Young (c), Lindelof, Bailly, Shaw, Matic, Herrera (A Pereira,75), Pogba, Lingard, Martial (Jones 81) Rashford (Lukaku 70)

Subs not used: Romero, Fellaini, Mata, Fellaini, Darmian

Bookings: Young, Herrera

Sent off: Bailly (79)

Scorers: Pogba (5, 33), Rashford (45), Lukaku (72)

Bournemouth: Begovic, Cook, Ake, Surman (c) (Mings 81), Ibe, Daniels, Wilson (Fraser 66), King, Stanislas, Brooks (Mousset 66), Rico

Subs not used: Boruc, Lerma, Defoe, Simpson

Scorer: Ake (45+1)

Attendance: 74,556.

How Solskjaer plans to teach United's forwards

In his press conference to preview the Premier League match against Bournemouth, Manchester United caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer provided a fascinating insight into the art of goalscoring and how he plans to help our current crop of forwards...

“I wasn't born with the ability to move in front of goal. I studied finishing, I studied goals, I studied movement, I worked on my mentality because that's key.

”You know you'll miss chances, but you can't do anything about them. It's all about the next one. You've got to be one step ahead as a striker to create that space you need as that's your best friend, apart from the ball, but you need that space.

“My first job here, after I finished playing, was as a forward coach so I worked with Cristiano [Ronaldo], Wayne [Rooney] and Danny Welbeck. [Carlos] Tevez was here too. It was a good start for me. Seriously, that was my strength - to put the ball in the net. I'm sure I can give these boys a little bit of that detail into scoring goals because on talent and physical attributes, all these boys have got loads more than me.

“I think Marcus Rashford has got the motivation and inspiration himself to become the best he can be. He practises a lot, he's got so much more than I had in the physical attributes - his pace and strength, striking from outside the box.

”Maybe I can give him a little bit of that nous that I had in the box - your movement to get free, that little bit of calmness in front of goal. But it's easy to say when I was 27, 28 or 29 because Marcus is 21 and still learning.

“But for me, the most important thing is to settle him down in front of goal. I've seen him rush a few finishes like 'I really need to get a shot off early'. Sometimes you just pass it past the keeper, because if there's a defender you just pass it past him or you go past him. That goal will never move. I'm really looking forward to having the amount of talent that I'm working with now up front.

“I will [relay my experiences to them]. I'll get to that because now I’ve got to know all of the software and the videos that we've got. I want to get into their heads and how they are thinking because that's the only thing they can control really - how they approach different situations.

”Throughout my life, ever since I played back home, instead of listening to the teacher, you were sat writing down your goals and your chances and thinking 'I should have done that' or 'I should have done this'. That's all I was thinking about really. I will get time to spend time with them.

“I’m not shocked by the talented forwards we have at United because we've always had top, top strikers at this club. Always. I've played with so many good ones and, to win games, you need to score goals. To score goals, you need top strikers. We've got top ones. It's about confidence as well.

“I've spoken about this in the Norwegian press. I've got a diary back home. After I met [sports psychologist] Bill Beswick when he came to the club, he made me aware of how important that confidence work is. I've got a diary of, not what we did, but how I was thinking and how I reacted to different situations in games.

”It starts with 'I've had enough of bad performances and bad confidence'. That was as a 27-year-old. All of the ones we're talking about, apart from Alexis, are way younger than 27 so, of course, it's the mental bit we need to work with.

“To work on it, you focus in training, score loads of goals during training sessions. If you've not scored enough during the game, you finish the day off with some extra finishing. Finishing is different to shooting - I've always said that.

”The thought process should be done in the training sessions, then naturally you will do it in the games. We can sit for hours and hours and hours talking about finishing practices and scoring goals because that's always been my passion. Whenever the training session and team sessions are done, I'll make sure I get time to work with the boys. There is one way of getting better and that is practising - on and off the pitch.“

Ryan Giggs teammates 2.0

Ryan Giggs sat down with Soccer AM's Tubes to reveal his Manchester United Teammates 2.0, including the best dressed and Mr Grumpy.

The Wales manager spent his entire playing career at Old Trafford from 1990 to 2014, making 963 appearances in all competitions.

Giggs will be lacing up his boots again in the new year, featuring for Wales at Star Sixes in Glasgow, which will be shown live on Sky Sports.

But who was the best dressed, most skilful and always grumpy at Man Utd? Giggs reveals all...

Giggs will be playing for Wales in the Star Sixes tournament in Glasgow January 4-6, live on Sky Sports.

Player's Player

Probably Cristiano Ronaldo overall, because of what he's gone and done at Real Madrid. But for my duration at Man Utd, the best player I played with was Paul Scholes. He was just a step ahead of every other player on the football pitch - normally in games but also in training. You couldn't touch him.

Funny Man

Early doors, it was Roy Keane and Nicky Butt and then towards the end, Patrice Evra. I'm not on social media but apparently everyone has seen him. Patrice was good at taking people off, impressions of how people would walk or speak. If you had a walk, he could take you off in an instant. He was funny. There were just little things that you wouldn't notice until he bought it to your attention. He was watching you all the time.

Showboat King

Cristiano, definitely. When he first came to Man Utd, he was probably doing too many skills on the pitch and not enough end product then once he got rid of that and started scoring goals and making them, he still had that where he could turn it on.

He was young when he joined, he was 18 and still learning his trade. It was a tough school to come in to, he was doing too many skills, as I said, but often, if he was taking too many touches, he would get kicked in training. He had to grow up quite quickly and he certainly did that to go on and be one of the best players in the world.

Hard as Nails

Roy was obviously hard. I played with Jaap Stam and Steve Bruce too, who would literally have to have a broken leg to not play. He would pull his hamstrings and say to the physios: 'just stick some Deep Heat on it, I'll be OK'. It was ridiculous. He had a hernia in about 1993 or 1994 and I think he played with it for about a year, had the operation and then came back after two-and-a-half weeks.

Hot Stepper

Patrice could dance. He was in charge of the music before the games while he was copying people's dancing. He might have been copying my dances! He could move. In my younger days, I had a few moves as well.

Nutmeg King

Laurent Blanc in the boxes before we would go in - five or six against two - he was a little cheeky nutmeg king. You wouldn't think it because he is so tall but he would do a slow one where he would roll it with his laces just through. It was a killer.

Speed Demon

Andrei Kanchelskis was quick and he looked quick. When he runs, some people look effortless and he did that. He just looked mean when he ran, he looked powerful. I was quite quick but I can't pick myself. I wasn't quicker than Andre, maybe with the ball I was, but in a race, he was better.

Best Dressed

Probably Becks [David Beckham]. He took a lot of pride in how he looked and obviously took a few risks over the years too, but he was always smart.

Worst Trainer

Players like Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister, who would train but would mostly just be there. But on the pitch, when it matters, they would turn up.

Mr Grumpy

You might have already guessed this but it's Gary Neville and he's not changed. It would be about everything - training, having a go at the kit man, the chef, everyone - saying that it is just not quite good enough. Like I said, he's not changed. Everyone tells him to shut up, but it doesn't seem to deter him. I think it just makes him happy, he'd be lost without it.

Shaw: Girlfriend told me Ole got the United job

Luke Shaw says he did not know Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would be appointed as Manchester United's interim manager.

Jose Mourinho lost his job on December 18 after a 3-1 loss to Liverpool at Anfield.

Solskjaer has since been appointed as interim manager and has overseen back-to-back wins over Cardiff City and Huddersfield Town in his first two games in charge.

Shaw says he had "no clue" the former United striker would be handed the reins until the end of the season and only found out about the appointment when his partner told him.

"The truth? My girlfriend told me," Shaw told Sky Sports.

"I woke up in the morning and had a shower and she ran out of the room and told me.

"I did not have a clue, I didn't look at my phone or anything. That's how I found out... from my girlfriend."

England international Shaw says the Norwegian has managed to turn around mood at the club in a short amount of time and believes United fans are appreciating his positive approach to the role.

"I think you can see from the outside how much he has changed things in such a short space of time," he said.

"He is just a really positive manager, he knows what the club needs and also what the fans want in the way we are playing.

"He's bringing that attacking, quick play back to Old Trafford. I'm sure the fans are going to appreciate that as much as we [the players] do."

Credit: Skysports.com

Mata plans to close 2018 by rewarding the fans

Juan Mata wants to end 2018 on a high, by beating Bournemouth in a manner that will reward the Manchester United fans at Old Trafford and all around the world.

The Reds’ 52nd and final competitive game of the calendar year sees the Cherries visit the Theatre of Dreams on Sunday afternoon (kick-off 16:30 GMT).

United can claim a hat-trick of league wins for the first time this season and continue the feel-good factor garnered from a positive start under caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, after morale-boosting victories over Cardiff City (5-1) and Huddersfield Town (3-1).

Juan left the pitch to a standing ovation after an impressive showing against the Terriers on Boxing Day, when there was a good vibe around the stadium created by the fans who once again shown their unwavering support for the club.

“It’s always a special game on Boxing Day, there’s always lots of kids with families around the stadium and there’s a nice Christmas atmosphere,” Mata told us.

“But our fans are unbelievable and since day one when I arrived, we’ve had some very good moments but also some difficult moments.

“It’s easy to support when you’re winning and at the best of your level, but when you’re in a difficult moment it’s very, very nice to feel everyone supporting you, everyone with you and waiting, and hoping for better times to come.

“That’s real support and that’s what we have. I feel and we feel very privileged to have the supporters we have at Old Trafford and around the world. When we win, it’s very nice to see them happy because they deserve better times.”

United can complete a double over Bournemouth for only the second time in the Premier League, after last month’s last-gasp 2-1 victory at the Vitality Stadium when Marcus Rashford scored a dramatic late winner.

Mata, who played 56 minutes of that game, felt the team took a lot from what was a tough encounter on the south coast and knows it will be another difficult match against Eddie Howe’s well-drilled team on Sunday.

When asked what he learned from November’s win over the Cherries, Juan said: “That until the end we fight to score like Marcus showed. It was a nice end to a difficult game.

“But I like Bournemouth, they have a good manager, they’ve played in a certain way for the last few seasons and they have players who know what they can produce for the team. They play in a very structured way, they like to have the ball and they’re a very good team.

“We play again at Old Trafford and we will try to show again how strong we can be at our home, respecting of course their manager and their team. I’m looking forward again to trying to get the three points.”

Rojo has two clear aims for 2019

Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo has revealed two clear aims for 2019, following a frustrating start to the season both on a personal and collective level.

The Argentina international enjoyed a positive summer after playing at the World Cup in Russia and scoring a crucial winning goal against Nigeria – which he describes as his highlight of 2018.

However, an injury then prevented him from appearing for the Reds until the recent Premier League fixture against Arsenal on 5 December and, by that time, he had missed 20 club matches.

In an exclusive interview that will appear in Sunday’s edition of United Review, the official matchday programme at Old Trafford, Rojo remains positive and looks forward to the New Year with optimism.

Asked to outline his ambitions for 2019, Marcos says: “On a personal level, I want to get back to my best level of fitness, to compete at the highest level once again so I can play in as many matches as possible. For the team, to turn around this current situation we are in, which isn’t too great.

“I hope next year we can be a little bit more consistent and that things go better for us. I hope that as a squad we can perform at our highest level and get as far as we can in every trophy we play for.”

Going into greater detail on his recent injury frustrations, Rojo admits it has been a difficult period in his career but states his strong mentality has seen him come through the other side.

“The worst thing about it is that it is the second year running I have not been able to have a full pre-season with my team-mates. I’ve not been fit enough to start playing at the beginning of the season and immediately that puts you on the back foot, at a disadvantage to the rest of the squad.

“You don’t get the chance to start the season and get a full pre-season in order to be totally fit, which is important. That’s unfortunate for me but I didn’t have any choice in the matter. These kind of things can happen in football. That’s the game of football. It can happen to anyone and this time it happened to be me.

“It’s all about being strong mentally. I am strong mentally and it is now about turning it around and starting again. I’m always going to fight hard to earn my place in the side.”

Speaking of strength, Rojo has become popular among supports for his robust style of defending and the teak-tough Argentinian admits he enjoys a physical challenge when the situation calls for one.

“It’s what I am like,” Marcos tells United Review. “That’s the way I play my football. That is me on the field. If you see me off the field, I’m the most laid back guy – laughing, joking all day and having fun but, as soon as I cross that white line and go on to the field, I don’t know what happens! I’m a different person. Something happens inside me and I change. If the ball is there to be won, I go for it and give it everything I’ve got. Individual battles, individual duels, I am always up for them.”

Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku must step up

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku must step up and take their chances for Manchester United as they near a return to full fitness.

Both players have been underwhelming for United so far this season, with Lukaku scoring just six times in all competitions, while Sanchez has found the net just four times since moving to Old Trafford in January.

Paul Pogba was another player who was struggling under previous manager Jose Mourinho, and found himself relegated to the bench during the latter stages of the Portuguese's reign.

However, he has been revitalised under Solskjaer and, although he rejected suggestions he is responsible for the midfielder's improved form, the Norwegian urged Sanchez and Lukaku to follow Pogba's lead.

"I cannot do anything for their performances on the pitch. Paul has done it himself. The players have done the performances," Solskjaer said ahead of United's match against Bournemouth, live on Sky Sports.

"I'm here to help them, guide them on the path, and then it's up to them to do it on the pitch.

"I don't agree I've done that with Paul, and I can do that with Romelu and Alexis. It's up to them when they get a chance. That's the name of the game when you're a footballer. You've got to do it yourself.

"Yes you want help from your manager and your team-mates. I give them some guidelines. There's been loads of talk about freedom of expression, but that's how I've always been as a manager.

"You can't tell all the players what to do. They are here for a reason - they are good players. It's up to them to use their imagination, creativity and enjoy playing for this club, because that is the best time of your life. It's not a bad time being a manager either, for a little while."

Credit: Skysports.com

Mark Dempsey joins Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Manchester United coaching team

Manchester United have added former youth coach Mark Dempsey to interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's coaching staff.

Dempsey, 54, worked alongside Solskjaer during the Norwegian's eight-month spell as Cardiff City manager in 2014, before joining his set-up at Molde in the Swedish top flight in 2015.

Dempsey had previously managed Norwegian club Haugesund and Swedish side Djurgarden before working alongside Solskjaer.

Most recently he had a brief spell in charge of Start before taking the reins at Kongsvinger in June 2018, where he remained for five months before moving back to England.

Dempsey began his professional career at United in 1982, making two appearances for then-manager Ron Atkinson before returning to the club as a development coach at the end of his playing career.

Dempsey joins Mike Phelan, Michael Carrick, Kieran McKenna and Emilio Alvarez on Solskjaer's coaching team.

Credit: Skysports.com

Solskjaer's six of the best forwards

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was famously rotated as part of an attacking quartet in Manchester United's Treble-winning squad and our caretaker manager is preparing to do the same with the club's current crop of forwards, as several recent absentees approach full fitness.

Anthony Martial missed the Boxing Day win over Huddersfield with illness, while Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez are yet to feature under the Norwegian. But the Reds' new boss is excited at the prospect of having a fully fit sextet at his disposal in attack.

“My thing now is Romelu, Alexis, Anthony, Marcus, Jesse, Juan – there are six forwards for you,” gleamed Solskjaer. “Will we play with more than four at a time? I'm not sure, so the rotation and the communication between the players, so they know they're going to get chances, is important for me.”

With that in mind, we assessed Ole's six stellar forwards and their seasons so far...

ALEXIS

The match-winning hero of one of the most memorable games of the season so far – October's 3-2 comeback win over Newcastle - has been absent since November with a hamstring issue and, like Lukaku, he will be desperate to show Ole his undoubted class. The Chilean has already been described as a 'workaholic' by Solskjaer - any supporters who follow Alexis on Instagram will be familiar with his thirst for fitness work – and the former Arsenal man could yet be a key weapon for United, if he can rediscover the form that made him one of the Premier League's most feared attackers during recent seasons.

JESSE LINGARD

The Warrington-born star scored a personal best 13 goals last season, but he had to wait until December to open his account for the 2018/19 campaign with our equaliser against Arsenal at Old Trafford. That was actually his first strike since February but Jesse has been flourishing in the few weeks since he found the net against the Gunners, and he has registered four goals and two assists in his last five Premier League games. Memorably, he bagged a double in Ole's first win, at Cardiff, and was also named Man of the Match.

ROMELU LUKAKU

United's top scorer so far in the calendar year of 2018, with 18 strikes, Rom has not played since the defeat at Anfield, so he will be looking to impress the new boss when he returns. Solskjaer has already hinted at his enthusiasm for working with the club's talented forwards, and the prospect of helping one of the stars of the last World Cup reach new heights is an exciting thought for fans.

ANTHONY MARTIAL

The Reds' leading scorer this season, with nine goals, netted just once in the opening 10 games of the campaign – against Young Boys – but as soon as he grabbed a regular place in the starting line-up, he quickly hit top form. The Frenchman scored in six consecutive league matches through October and November, and he was a terrorising threat in Solskjaer's first fixture – the 5-1 thumping of Cardiff. Martial scored arguably the outstanding goal of the game – a sinuous team move involving Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard that climaxed with our no.11 sliding the ball home off the inside of the post.

JUAN MATA

Superb in the win over Huddersfield, Mata's thoughtful link-play offers experience and calmness in attack. His free-kicks have grabbed vital goals for the team (the first in the comeback against Newcastle, the equaliser away to Juventus) and his style of play enables United to slow the game down and control the ball for periods, something Solskjaer has mentioned as important, despite the clear overall emphasis on speedy, direct attacking football.

MARCUS RASHFORD

The hard-running local hero has been directly involved in more goals than any other United forward this term - 10 so far, matching his five goals with the same number of assists; only midfielder Paul Pogba has a higher combined tally. Like Martial, Rashford's season began relatively slowly, but he kickstarted Solskjaer's tenure with a scorching free-kick at Cardiff and three goals in his last five appearances indicate that the England forward is back to his best, now that a busy World Cup summer is well behind him.

Whichever combination of forwards Ole opts for against Bournemouth on Sunday, the busy fixture schedule suggests we'll see all six players at some point in the coming weeks. Watch this space.

Solskjaer clarifies the Captaincy

Antonio Valencia is expected to lead out the Manchester United team again soon, after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed he is still the captain.

The Ecuadorian has missed the first two fixtures of Solskjaer's temporary tenure, but the caretaker manager revealed the right-back is working hard to make himself available for the challenging New Year schedule.

“I told you he's the captain and, when he's properly fit and playing, he'll wear the armband,” insisted Ole, when asked at Friday's press conference if he could appoint a new skipper.

“He's going through a couple of tough sessions now to get him ready for the busy period coming up.

”When you look at Antonio, there are not many better right-backs going forward with his abilities so, yes, you'll see him wearing his armband.“

Valencia is the longest-serving player in United's current squad, having signed for Sir Alex Ferguson in the summer of 2009, and the two team-mates who are closest to him in that particular pecking order have both been captain in his recent absence.

Ashley Young and David De Gea, who arrived at Old Trafford two years later than Valencia, were Solskjaer's skippers for the victories over Cardiff City and Huddersfield Town respectively. Young also led the team out for what proved to be the last match under Jose Mourinho's management, away to Liverpool on 16 December when Antonio was an unused substitute.

Solskjaer's squad update for Bournemouth game

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed that he could have several more players available for Manchester United's final game of 2018, against Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Sunday (kick-off 16:30 GMT).

The Norwegian spoke to the media on Friday morning ahead of the match, and revealed that Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez and Anthony Martial all took part in light training at the Aon Training Complex on Thursday after all of them missed the 3-1 Boxing Day win over Huddersfield.

Solskjaer also suggested Marcos Rojo and Scott McTominay might also be able to increase their involvement in training soon, but admitted that Chris Smalling is likely to be absent until the Tottenham Hotspur fixture at Wembley on 13 January, due to a foot problem.

“We've not had a lot of training since [the Huddersfield game],” explained United's new caretaker manager. “We had yesterday [Thursday] off so today is the first day back.

”Romelu [Lukaku], Anthony [Martial] and Alexis were [in] light [training] yesterday so hopefully they can join part of the training today and let's see after they've come through. Marcos [Rojo] and Scott [McTominay] look like they can take part very soon as well, so it's looking better.

“Smalling has got a sore foot, so I don't think we'll see him until the New Year anyway - maybe not even before Spurs [on 13 January] probably, around that time, but you never know.”

Of the players mentioned, only Martial has featured thus far under Solskjaer, but the Frenchman was forced out of the Huddersfield match due to illness.

Despite a 5-1 scoreline and a tremendous performance in the first match of the Treble winner's stewardship at Cardiff, Solskjaer made several changes for his second game, underlining to the squad that everyone will get their chance to impress.

With United's next match at Newcastle following just three days after the Bournemouth clash, the caretaker manager will be keen to use the depth of his squad wherever possible.

Bournemouth shared some early team news of their own on Thursday, when they confirmed they will be without their captain Simon Francis at Old Trafford, after the centre-back was stretchered off during the 5-0 defeat to Tottenham at Wembley on Boxing Day. Scans later revealed a rupture to the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. The defender joins midfielder Lewis Cook on the sidelines, who suffered a similar injury earlier in the month.

Dan Gosling and Adam Smith are also expected to miss out, after playing no part in recent games due to knee complaints.

Can the Reds wrap up 2018 with another win?

Manchester United will be looking to record a trio of consecutive wins in the Premier League for the first time this season when Bournemouth come to Old Trafford on Sunday.

The fixture is our latest in the packed festive schedule, and comes hot on the heels of a confident 3-1 win over Huddersfield Town on Boxing Day, when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took charge of his first home match as caretaker manager to great acclaim.

The Treble winner will be hoping United's positive momentum can be further extended after eight goals in two matches and a pair of entertaining attacking displays.

But how will Solskjaer's men cope with Eddie Howe's adventurous Cherries? Read on for the lowdown on United's final match of 2018...

WHAT'S THE TEAM NEWS?
Anthony Martial missed the victory over Huddersfield due to illness but could return on Sunday, while fellow forwards Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez could also be involved. Solskjaer revealed that the Chilean is ready to start ball work in training, when speaking after the Terriers match, but admitted United's no.7 might be more likely to feature in the Newcastle game on 2 January. Matteo Darmian, Chris Smalling, Marcos Rojo, Antonio Valencia and Scott McTominay also sat out the match, but Solskjaer could provide a further update on their availability in Friday morning's pre-match press conference.

WHAT ABOUT BOURNEMOUTH?
Cherries captain Simon Francis (knee) was stretchered from the field during Bournemouth's Boxing Day loss to Tottenham at Wembley, with boss Howe waiting on the results of a scan, but admitting “it didn't look good”. Lewis Cook (knee), Dan Gosling (knee) and Adam Smith (knee) have also been sidelined with lengthy complaints and are expected to miss out.

HOW GOOD IS OUR RECORD AGAINST BOURNEMOUTH?
The Dorset club did not reach the top flight until 2015, so we've faced the Cherries relatively few times. The teams met for the first occasion in 1949, when United ran out 6-0 winners in the FA Cup third round while still playing home games at Maine Road after the war. United have dominated the encounters, winning 10 of the 15 matches, drawing three times and losing just twice. However, Howe's men won the first-ever league match between the clubs - a 2-1 victory at the Vitality Stadium in 2015, when United were managed by Louis van Gaal. But Old Trafford remains unconquered territory: Bournemouth have lost five of their six games here, with a 1-1 draw in 2016/17 being their best effort to date. In last season's equivalent fixture, Romelu Lukaku scored the only goal on a bitterly cold and wet midweek evening in December.

WHAT'S BOURNEMOUTH'S FORM LIKE?
The Cherries delivered a strong opening couple of months to their campaign, and were up in the European spots for much of the early stages of the season, but they’ve fallen into mid-table during recent weeks, largely due to a disappointing record on the road. On Sunday they will be looking to avoid their fifth consecutive away league defeat after falling to Newcastle, Manchester City, Wolves and Tottenham on their most recent trips. The Boxing Day defeat at Wembley was a worrying 5-0 reverse to Mauricio Pochettino's flying Spurs, though Bournemouth spurned early opportunities through Ryan Fraser and David Brooks, and were unlucky to fall behind to Christian Eriksen's cruelly deflected long-range strike. Despite those results, the Cherries will still look forward to playing their part in what promises to be an open and entertaining game at Old Trafford. Outside of the top six, only Everton have notched more than Bournemouth's 27 goals.

ONE TO BEWARE
United will have to look out for the inventive Fraser and Brooks, along with dangerous striker Callum Wilson, who recently scored his first international goal for England. But Brooks is probably the standout story from Bournemouth's season so far. The 21-year-old was relatively unknown to those unfamiliar with football outside of the Premier League when he joined from Sheffield United in the summer, but the intelligent, lively midfielder has quickly made a name for himself, providing both goals and assists. As a teenager, Brooks was on the books at Manchester City, before being released, and has found his way to the top through hard work and humility, though his effective left foot has earned him the semi-serious nickname 'the Warrington Maradona'. “It's a bit far-fetched!” said the Welsh international. “But it means you're doing something right if people are saying nice things like that.”

WHO IS THE REFEREE?
Lee Mason takes charge of his second United match this season, with the first being November's 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace at Old Trafford. Mason has refereed nine Premier League games this season so far and is yet to brandish a red card, though he does average 3.8 yellows per game. He will be assisted by Marc Perry and Adrian Holmes, while Mike Dean will act as the fourth official.

RIVALS WATCH
All 20 teams are in action over the course of the weekend, with United-Bournemouth being the tenth and final fixture. Liverpool and Arsenal is the pick of Saturday's match-ups, while there are three earlier games on Sunday before we take to the pitch at Old Trafford. Here's the schedule in full...

SATURDAY 29 DECEMBER
Brighton & Hove Albion v Everton
Fulham v Huddersfield Town
Leicester City v Cardiff City
Tottenham Hotspur v Wolves
Watford v Newcastle
Liverpool v Arsenal (17:30 GMT)

SUNDAY 30 DECEMBER
Crystal Palace v Chelsea (12:00 GMT)
Burnley v West Ham (14:15 GMT)
Southampton v Manchester City (14:15 GMT)
Manchester United v Bournemouth (16:30 GMT)

Matches kick off at 15:00 GMT unless stated.

Giggs: Solskjaer has a sterner side

Manchester United caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer may have a friendly demeanour but he also has an 'edge', according to his former team-mate Ryan Giggs.

Solskjaer has turned the team's fortunes around over the last week, starting with an encouraging 5-1 drubbing of Cardiff City in South Wales, before building on that victory with Boxing Day's 3-1 defeat of Huddersfield Town at Old Trafford.

Giggs, who of course had his own spell as United's caretaker boss back in 2014, is not surprised to see Ole doing a great job so far, given what he knows about the Norwegian's character.

“Even though everyone thinks he is a nice guy, he has [also] got an edge to him and you need that as a manager,” Ryan told MUTV after the Huddersfield game.

“I believed he would go into coaching. [As a player] he was always quietly confident and he believed in his own ability.

“As he gained more experience, and especially when he got that injury and had a bit of time out, it was quite well documented how he used to take notes on what Sir Alex [Ferguson] used to do.

“Ole is doing a great job. It's not always easy to follow up the positivity [of the Cardiff game], but I thought the lads did great today, in what was not an easy game at times.”

Commenting on the win against Huddersfield and the positive mood at the club over Christmas, Giggs says the key players are stepping up and making a difference.

“With it being Ole’s first home game, and especially given the positivity that came from the Cardiff performance and the result, I think everyone was looking forward to the game,” he continued.

“The big players are turning up. [Paul] Pogba with the goals, David [De Gea] with a great save and Marcus [Rashford] is just getting better and better with each game. So there is a real positivity around the place and we need to carry that on now going into the Bournemouth game.”

With Arsenal and Chelsea both dropping Premier League points in the last five days, and United's past habit of surging in the second halves of seasons, Giggs believes a top-four place is certainly still achievable for the Reds in 2019.

“It's a tough league but there are a lot of games to come, and we've seen what can happen in football with Manchester City and Liverpool [swapping places],” said Ryan.

“We used to do it [as players], we could have been 10 or 12 points behind, but we chased down those leads at times.

”As long as it is mathematical[ly possible], and you probably need to beat your rivals as well, [then there is a chance].

“We need a good run of games. Getting our confidence up going into that Tottenham game [on 13 January] will be important as well.”

United prospect Gomes feels there is more to come

Manchester United’s young prodigy Angel Gomes believes his substitute cameo appearance against Huddersfield Town at Old Trafford is ‘just the start’ and insists he will grasp every opportunity that comes his way under caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Gomes became United's youngest player in the Premier League era back in May 2017 when he made his Reds debut as a substitute against Crystal Palace.The teenager was awarded the Jimmy Murphy Youth Team Player of the Year for 2017, becoming the youngest-ever winner of the accolade at the time.

Since then, Gomes has impressed in United's Under 23s and was rewarded with a place in the travelling squad when the Reds thrashed Cardiff City 5-1 away in Wales last weekend. The 18-year-old got his chance against Huddersfield this time around, replacing Juan Mata 10 minutes from the end, and admits he enjoyed the crowd's response.

“Yes, it's always nice to come on, especially when you are a young lad, following in the footsteps of the other players who are progressing and doing well,” Gomes told MUTV. “To come on and hear the crowd cheering me on was a great feeling.

“My ears actually blocked! I couldn’t really hear, but, as soon as I got on, I felt at ease. The players helped me, they spoke to me and gave me instructions and I was fine from then on.”

Gomes believes he can now kick on from his return to first-team action, as he hopes to get further opportunities to play under caretaker manager Solskjaer.

“It is just the start, it was good,” he continued. ”Me and Jimmy [James Garner] travelled for the last game as well, so to be involved again [today] was an added bonus and to get some minutes was great.

“I think United is about bringing youth through and I think with the new manager and how things are going, it is there for the taking really.”

Gomes feels he can learn a lot from the new caretaker boss, given the number of goals Solskjaer scored for the club during his playing days.

“He is a legend at the club,“ acknowledged Angel. ”The fans will get behind him because of the things he won with the club and how great a player he was. For me to learn from a manager like Solskjaer is great and the other younger lads too because growing up we were all watching him. It is a great feeling.”

The skilful midfielder revealed what Solskjaer told him before he stepped on to the Old Trafford turf and reiterated that he now wants more chances to shine as a first-team player.

“He told me to enjoy myself, get on the pitch, come inside, get on the ball and get as many touches as I can and to enjoy the atmosphere,“ explained Gomes. ”I tried to do that and it was a great experience.

“It's just the start and whichever team I play for, the Reserves, in the Youth League or the first team, I will give it my all and I will take every opportunity as it comes.”

The stats behind Pogba's display on Boxing Day

Paul Pogba was the unanimous choice as Manchester United's Man of the Match after the 3-1 Boxing Day triumph over Huddersfield Town.

The World Cup winner struck twice in the second half to help the Reds ease to a second successive victory during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's caretaker stewardship. There was far more to the Frenchman's performance than the goals, however, as he operated mainly in a left-sided position in midfield and managed to frequently get on the ball and inspire attacks.

Pogba managed a game-high of 90 passes in total, with 61 of these coming in the opposition half - again, more than any other player on the pitch. In total, he had 117 touches of the ball which was way clear of the next best in this category - team-mate Luke Shaw.

Nobody in a red shirt made more than his two tackles and he gained possession 10 times, which was the most for the home side. There were seven sprints during the 10.73 km he covered in distance as he was hugely influential in the middle of the pitch.

In attack, he mustered five shots in total, four of which were on target, with one effort blocked. The creative spark also supplied three key passes and clearly gels with fellow Academy products Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford.

All in all, it was a superb display by Pogba, who deservedly ran out victor of our poll after being one of the nominees from David May on MUTV.

POLL RESULT

Paul Pogba - 82%
David De Gea - 12%
Marcus Rashford - 6%

Ole: De Gea save was one of the best

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hailed David De Gea's brilliant second-half save as the key moment in Manchester United's 3-1 victory over Huddersfield Town in the Norwegian's return to Old Trafford as Reds' caretaker boss.

A first-half goal from Nemanja Matic set United on our way, before a double from Paul Pogba secured the three points, despite Martin Jorgensen's late consolation.

Scroll down to read Ole's comments following his interview with MUTV and during his post-match press conference...

DAVID DE GEA'S WONDER SAVE

“The result was great. Obviously, you win the game and get three points. I think we started off slowly and maybe [it was] the whole occasion, we took one touch too many, we didn’t create too many chances early on but, after we got the first goal, I think we settled down, we passed it quicker. There was a period just before half-time when you thought we would get the second here and it will be game over. In the second half, the first seven or eight minutes, I think we struggled then David’s save was the key moment for us. You know every team, whatever game you are playing, if you are at home or away, they will get a chance because there is quality in all Premier League teams and that save must be one of the best I have seen - probably the best.

THE REASON BEHIND THE SUBSTITUTIONS

”We wanted some experience, you know with Ashley [Young] and Ander [Herrera] you get players that have been around the block because I thought we had struggled in the second half when we started, so it just settled the whole thing down.“

POGBA IMPRESSIVE AGAIN

“It was great to see him score two goals and he has created the goals last week at Cardiff, and now he scores them himself, so he will be even better for getting two lots of 90 minutes now and he will be fitter and fitter and improving with the team. We looked tired towards the end and now it is important over the next two or three days that we recover and get ready for Bournemouth.”

ALTERING THE MINDSET

“You don’t change anything in one week, but you change the mindset. I want my team to play in a certain way and I give them little pointers here and there. It’s a work in progress, that’s what it is. It’s going to take time as the players go from one manager and the details he wanted and I have a little bit of a tweak. It will improve as time goes on.”

THE FANS SINGING YOUR NAME

“It makes me proud, humble and I was surprised how calm and focused on the game, if I was to be honest. It felt special walking out there and hearing the crowd sing my name. Normally, they start it after I score a goal or something, not when the game is starting!

”It was humbling and makes you really proud. Hopefully, my family are proud and also the family back home watching telly in Norway. I’ll never ever forget these first two games. So I really enjoyed it.“

Premier League: Man. United 3 Huddersfield Town 1

Manchester United made it two wins out of two in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's caretaker stewardship with a 3-1 triumph over Huddersfield Town on Boxing Day at Old Trafford.

The Reds' renaissance gained momentum as there was huge expectancy around the stadium ahead of Solskjaer and Mike Phelan's return to the club and, ultimately, the United faithful were more than satisfied with outcome. Nemanja Matic gave United the lead and Paul Pogba added a couple goals in the second half to seal a win that had the crowd singing the praises of the new boss and his team Huddersfield played without fear, despite their position at the foot of the table, and probably deserved their late consolation trough Mathias Jorgensen, nicknamed Zanka.

Old Trafford returned to something like its old self as the teams emerged from the tunnel to be greeted by a wall of noise. Coming on the back of a convincing 5-1 win over Cardiff City in Wales - United’s best scoring domestic day-out in more than five years – and the fact that one of the club’s great heroes – Solskjaer – followed the players out into the stadium was enough to ignite mild hysteria in the stands.

The banner honouring the Norwegian - 20 LEGEND - still hangs from the second tier of the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand and the welcome he received – from everyone, including the travelling Huddersfield Town fans – was very special, even by Old Trafford’s lofty standards. There was an almost tangible feeling of optimism as the teams readied themselves for the kick-off and the volume was raised a few decibels as Solskjaer’s charges looked to go on the offensive from the outset.

There was a noticeable spring in the step of the United players as they responded positively to the support that was roaring them on. Huddersfield appeared totally unaffected by the hullabaloo and, in the 10th minute, they could easily have thrown some early cold water on the proceedings when defender Terence Kongolo fired over captain David De Gea’s goal when it would have been easier to find the net.

The Reds held the upper hand, though, and, as one attack looked to be gathering pace, Huddersfield’s Elias Kachunga resorted to illegal methods to halt Marcus Rashford’s progress, and was booked for a cynical challenge. The visitors were by no means a distant second best as the game wore on, but with 17 minutes of the opening half remaining, United struck the first major blow of the game. The Reds won a corner in front of the East Stand, which Rashford took. Victor Lindelof was first to the cross and his glancing header ultimately dropped at the feet of Matic, who gleefully swept United into the lead.

Old Trafford erupted in celebration and, almost immediately, the entire list of Ole anthems began to be aired. Diogo Dalot volleyed wide after great work by Rashford and the England striker also had a couple of attempts himself as the hosts dominated. However, Huddersfield went close to finding an equaliser seconds before the half-time break, when Philip Billing hit the side-netting, which sent out a message that all teams can be dangerous and take advantage of brief lapses of concentration.

United attacked the Stretford End as the second half commenced, but it was Huddersfield who made most of the early running and, with a modicum of luck, their raucous followers could have been celebrating the leveller. Our slow start prompted the managerial set-up to shuffle the pack and introduce a couple of substitutes to the contest. Ander Herrera and Ashley Young were sent on to replace Fred and Diogo Dalot.

Town were producing some top-quality football and looking nothing like a team that are currently in the Premier League’s relegation zone, seeming certain to score, in the 61st minute, when Laurent Depoitre sent a great header goal bound. It looked certain to find the net until De Gea took flight to push the ball away for a corner.

There was little to choose between the sides during this spell but, in the 64th minute, Huddersfield’s revival was nipped in the bud when United doubled the lead. It was a move culminating in Juan Mata and Herrera that opened up the Terriers' defence, which ended with Pogba picking his spot before rattling home an unstoppable strike past Jonas Lossi in the visitors' goal.

Solskjaer had done little prowling in the technical area, but he was quick to get to his feet when, in the 78th minute, Pogba put the result beyond doubt with his second goal of the afternoon - whipping the ball past Lossl from Jesse Lingard's assist. Two minutes later, United utilised our final substitute when Academy graduate Angel Gomes took the field in place of Mata. Both players received terrific applause from the supporters.

Huddersfield gained some consolation with a couple of minutes of normal time remaining when Jorgensen finished off a header by Steve Mounie. The game ended with the Stretford End celebrating Solskjaer’s return to the club and a second win for the Reds inside five days. Hence, the bulk of the crowd left for home looking forward to enjoying the remainder of the festive break.

United: De Gea (c); Dalot (Young 53), Lindelof, Jones, Shaw; Fred (Herrera 53), Matic; Mata (Gomes 80), Pogba, Lingard; Rashford.

Subs not used: Romero, Bailly, Fellaini, A. Pereira.

Huddersfield: Lossl; Hadergjonaj, Jorgensen, Schindler, Kongolo, Durm; Kachunga (Lowe 57), Pritchard, Billing, Mbenza (Quaner 63); Depoitre (Mounie 74).

Subs not used: Hamer, Hogg, Bacuna, Stankovic.

Scorers: Matic 28, Pogba 64,78 | Jorgensen 88

Yellow cards: Fred | Kachunga

Attendance: 74,523.

NEXT UP

United entertain Bournemouth at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Saturday, 16:30 GMT kick-off.

Mata: It is time for us to be optimistic

Hi everyone. I would like to start my penultimate blog post of the year by wishing all of you who celebrate it a Merry Christmas.

As you all know, despite there normally being a break for the holidays, we don’t stop.

Without doubt, it is one of the busiest times of the year in terms of the amount of games there are in English football.

We have two games at Old Trafford and we want to close out December in the best possible way: with two wins.

Obviously, it has been a different week with the change of manager and I’d like to thank Jose for the trophies we won together and wish him luck for the future.

As you will all be aware, the legendary Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is our new boss and we couldn’t have started off upon his return to the club in a better way.

It was a convincing win against Cardiff and it will raise morale going into the end of 2018 and the rapidly approaching New Year.

It is time for be optimistic, to look ahead and keep working hard to climb up the table. We are really motivated to do so while entertaining our fans, who deserve so much.

To start off, we play on Boxing Day against Huddersfield.

It is a date that reminds me of my first months in the Premier League some seven years ago, from that point it transformed into one of the best days of the year for me. There are a lot of families in the stands and we hope to add a good game to the party atmosphere.

It is a special day for English football.

Four days later, we will welcome Bournemouth, a team who are having a phenomenal season. In our first league game against them, we managed to win thanks to a stoppage-time goal from Marcus, and on Sunday I am sure that they will be looking for revenge.

Hugs, and I hope that you all enjoy this special week.

Juan

Solskjaer: United fans are the best in the world

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has previewed what promises to be an emotionally charged atmosphere when Manchester United welcome Huddersfield Town to Old Trafford on Boxing Day (15:00 GMT kick-off).

The legendary striker got his caretaker managerial stint off to a fabulous start with the 5-1 victory at Cardiff City last weekend and cannot wait to walk out in front of the home crowd on Wednesday.

With United hoping to make up ground on the top four during a hectic schedule, there should be a buoyant mood for the visit of the Terriers.

MANAGING UNITED AT OLD TRAFFORD

“Of course, you try to keep your emotions in check. I'm there to do a job, I've got to be focused. It's not easy, I don't think it will be easy but I'm looking forward to it. I think the boys are looking forward to playing at Old Trafford. That's the key. We should be looking forward to playing there. I was sat next to Rene Meulensteen as a coach in a Reserves-team game there once, and I was there with Cardiff, but, of course, it will be special.

”You can never set the bar too high. They [the players] are setting the standards. The players that play for this club, they've got high standards to live up to and, Saturday, it was not like they've outperformed themselves because you cannot outperform yourself. We want to look at this game, evaluate and look at a few clips. We can be better, we can understand each other better, so it will be good.“

THE RED ARMY

“They're the best fans in the world. Obviously, I've got my history at the club and to see that banner ('20 Legend') is special. I just hope, in the next five months, I'll do a good enough job for them to keep saying my name when someone else gets in there.

”When you sign for Man United, you know you're going to play in front of the best fans in the world. But you know confidence is not something you just go into the fridge and pick. You earn it by your performances, by your training, how you feel and hopefully this [win at Cardiff] gave them a boost so I think they're all looking forward to Boxing Day, to be honest.

DEALING WITH PUNDITS

“Don't worry, Gary [Neville] will be really hard on me! I've sat next to him in the dressing room for 11 years. He was next to me. You know Gary and he's paid now to give his opinion and of course he should do. I'm no different to anyone else, I'm no different to any other manager, when you lead that team out onto that pitch, because it comes with a responsibility. I don't play for them. My job is to get the players enjoying themselves. I've had texts from all my old team-mates wishing me all the best and giving me good advice, sound advice, all of them. They'll probably criticise me as well, don't worry about that!”

ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK!

“The players have not said anything about a handbrake [being on]. But we spoke in a team meeting before the Cardiff game about when we get one goal, we want to get two. When you get two, you want to get three. That's just the nature of this team, this club, that you always go and attack.

”It's not going to happen in every game that you create chances like we did on Saturday. You've got to grind it out but it worked and with the blistering pace that we've got up front, they [Cardiff] had to chase the game. I don't think any team would like to have [Jesse] Lingard, [Marcus] Rashford, [Anthony] Martial and [Paul] Pogba running at them, so why should we stop?

“I've spoken to Sir Alex [Ferguson] and hopefully I'll go to his or he'll come to me and we'll have a cup of tea. He's the boss and if there's anyone who can give me proper advice - not my team-mates! - that's him.

”The attacking philosophy is in the walls of Man United. That's tradition, that's history and that's how we play. That's how we want to play so Cardiff was a good reflection of what we want.“

Different United under Solskjaer

Manchester United already look like a new team following Jose Mourinho’s departure, writes Adam Bate.

The symmetry, like Manchester United's football, was irresistible. The 5-1 thrashing of Cardiff was the first time that United have scored five goals in a Premier League game since Sir Alex Ferguson's final match in charge. What an extraordinary start for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Mike Phelan must be wondering what all the fuss has been about.

Make no mistake, these Manchester United players were under the microscope in south Wales. Everyone went into this looking for hints and clues. Would they play with freedom following Jose Mourinho's departure? As it turned out, there was no need for detective skills. The swagger of their display in Solskjaer's first game in charge was unmissable.

There was some fortune early on. Marcus Rashford's third-minute free-kick allowed no time for doubts. It was the earliest that United have scored a Premier League goal since the first game of the season. When Ander Herrera's deflected shot looped over Neil Etheridge, it meant that the team had scored from their first two shots on target under Solskjaer.

But it was the third goal - an immediate response to the penalty awarded to and scored by Cardiff - that reeked of a team playing with real confidence again. There was nothing particularly surprising about Anthony Martial's inch-perfect finish but the build-up to it was unfamiliar. This was the one-touch passing at pace that United have not been producing.

As well as the remarkable five-goal statistic, this was also the first time in over a year that United had scored three goals in the first half of a Premier League away game. Were they really being shackled so badly?

Cardiff are not the strongest opponents that Solskjaer will have to face but the signs of greater enthusiasm cannot be ignored. Consider the tracking data that shows the distance covered by the players and the number of high-intensity sprints that they make. It has been startlingly low all season under Mourinho.

United were outrun by their opponents in 16 of their first 17 Premier League games this season with the only exception being the 160 extra metres that they covered against Fulham. This was very different. By half-time, United had outrun Cardiff by more than two kilometres. By the final whistle, the gulf was more than five kilometres. Astonishing.

As for sprints, United had made fewer of those than their opponents in 15 of the previous 17 games this season. This time they made 119 sprints to Cardiff's 99. Again, it is a difference that tells a tale.

It will need more than running to take United forward in the long term but it is certainly a start. Solskjaer's former team-mate Gary Neville frequently made the point that Mourinho's reign at Old Trafford had descended into a situation where he was simply picking the few remaining players he could trust. Coming at it with fresh eyes and no baggage has helped.

Solskjaer has been able to get the most talented players back on the pitch. Paul Pogba returned to the starting line-up after being left on the bench throughout the 3-1 defeat to Liverpool. Martial was back in the team too as part of a mobile front three alongside Rashford and Jesse Lingard that had far too much energy and quality for Cardiff.

There was a speed and incision to their work, evident in the 11th minute when Martial cut through the Cardiff defence to win a corner. Even after the break, when it would have been tempting to take a step back and defend their two-goal lead against opponents who had won four of their previous five home games in the Premier League, United pressed on.

In fact, the ambition only increased with a series of interchanges on the edge of the Cardiff area. Lingard ran into the box with purpose to win a penalty and then insisted on taking it himself, calmly sending Etherington the wrong way. Victor Lindelof was next to get involved, bursting forward from the back to slide Rashford through for the chance to make it five.

In the end, it was the rejuvenated Pogba who provided the assist for the fifth goal - Lingard's second of the match. Every outfield starter for United either had a shot on goal or created a chance for a team-mate. It was that sort of evening. A night in which United had more possession than in any other game so far this season.

There will be more difficult matches than this one, of course, but this was not all about the opposition. This was about a much-maligned team showing that they can play. They showed that if the full-backs get forward then they have the players who can take advantage of the space it creates.

Solskjaer was always certain of returning to Old Trafford as a hero. The banner bearing his name will be back between the Stretford End and the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand on Boxing Day. But the fact that Huddersfield are the visitors that day with another home fixture against Bournemouth wrapping up the year, offers an opportunity.

Getting United back to the top remains a long-term project but this performance suggests that one of the stumbling blocks to progress - the relationship between an unhappy manager and his even more unhappy players - has been removed. United might not need to wait six months to begin moving forwards after all. The change is already apparent.

Credit: Skysports.com

Were Manchester United right to sack Jose Mourinho?

The Sunday Supplement panel discuss whether Manchester United were right to part company with Jose Mourinho.

The Portuguese was sacked by United on Tuesday morning after a face-to-face meeting with executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward at the club's Carrington training ground, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer taking over until the end of the campaign.

The 'Special One' arrived at Old Trafford in the summer of 2016 with a reputation as one of the greatest managers in the world having multiple major trophies.

However, despite guiding United to glory in the League Cup and the Europa League in his first season at the helm, Mourinho left with the club languishing down in sixth in the Premier League and 11 points off the Champions League places.

So, was the 55-year-old harshly dealt with by United, or was his time up at Old Trafford?

Ian McGarry (former chief football writer at The Sun and The Daily Mail)

The decision was taken after the game at Anfield on Sunday as they could not see performances improving. There was no back-up plan to sack Mourinho before the end of the season until that conference call with the Glazers on Monday evening. They said 'pull the plug', Ed Woodward agreed and then they have the surprise meeting at Carrington on Tuesday.

Mourinho gave his players too many excuses to fail, whether he was lambasting them publicly or privately, pulling them up for social media posts, or the things he said in press conferences.

And if you do lose the dressing room, then you cannot expect the players to not think this failure is not my fault. And ultimately it is the manager who pays the price with his job as you cannot sack a whole team.

I do have some sympathy with Mourinho as some things went against him in terms of recruitment and you obviously cannot legislate for Paul Pogba and Mino Raiola stirring things up on an almost weekly basis behind the scenes.

I do not think it is his methods that are out of date though, but his man-management style.

Last time I saw him was in the tunnel at the Amex after Brighton had beaten United 3-2 at the beginning of the season and he looked physically smaller and the aura has gone.

Paul McCarthy (former sports editor at News of the World)

It is his leadership (that was the problem) - if you are an England player under Gareth Southgate, or a Man City player under Pep Guardiola, or a Liverpool player under Jurgen Klopp, these are managers who understand you and young people's mentality.

Whereas Mourinho is the old-fashioned school teacher and what I say goes and that is a big culture shock, which you can see reflected in the Man Utd players.

If you went into his office at Cobham, it was like a shrine to himself - there are pictures of him all over the walls, books are all about Mourinho, all the magazines on the table had Mourinho on the front cover.

It was like 'look at me and how successful I have been' and I have never been to another manager's office like that.

Patrick Barclay (former chief football correspondent at The Times)

I think he has become unhealthily consumed by his own ego. Sir Alex Ferguson's ego was just as big as Mourinho's, as was his fear of failure.

The difference is everything Fergie was doing, good or bad, you got the impression it was for Man Utd. It was not, it was for him as well, but you never got that impression.

Credit: Skysports.com

Gary Neville: Why the hard work starts now for Manchester United

Gary Neville thinks the "hard work starts now" for Manchester United after sacking Jose Mourinho and bringing in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as caretaker manager.

Mourinho was dismissed on Tuesday and replaced by former United striker Solskjaer until the end of the season.

Solskjaer made a positive start to his time in charge as United won 5-1 at Cardiff on Saturday.

Ex-United defender Neville said on the Gary Neville Podcast: "There was an immediate bounce and impact from Ole, however it was Cardiff and we need to see if they can do it over six months.

"If they can do that then they will get the opportunity to play for the club next season. If they do it over six games and then drop back they won't play for the club next season.

"The most important thing for Manchester United is sailing the ship into shore calmly, with some people needing to disembark and not come back, and some needing to come on and sail out to seas in the future. That's the nature of the next six months.

"The hard work starts now for United. Anybody who thinks sacking Jose Mourinho is the answer, it is not, the hard work starts now and I am sure the people in the club are wise enough and knowledgeable to know that."

Neville says it was "comforting" to see his former team-mate Solskjaer alongside Michael Carrick and Mike Phelan in the dugout on Saturday.

However, he thinks players now have to prove they are good enough to remain with the club beyond the end of the season.

"You can see Manchester United have made an appointment to create a happy ship and make sure someone who came in had respect through the whole club and knew the whole club and could connect the club," he continued.

"There's no doubt it was an unhappy place. There were obvious tensions with certain players that became public, then the fans were going to the stadium feeling like every game was a crossroads or one minute away from something big happening, so it wasn't a huge shock."

"My quite clear message all week has been about the club resetting and they have someone who can feed back into them without any agenda what each player is like. Are they Manchester United players from a quality point of view? Let's remember 35 per cent of this squad were here under David Moyes and he couldn't get the best out of them.

"Around 55-60 per cent of the squad were here under Louis van Gaal and he couldn't get the best out of them. I am not sure the players are good enough, some of them are, and maybe the best from them is what we are seeing, so it's not as easy as saying did Jose Mourinho get the best from these players.

"There are three managers who have failed to get the best from the majority of these players, so then I ask are the players the right quality? Ole's job in the next six months is to be head coach, head scout, head of recruitment and making sure he feeds back really good information into the recruitment department of what the club needs.

"My concern over the last three to four years is who has been signing the players. That needs cleaning up and I am certain the club in the next six months will appoint the right people who are best in class to run that side of things.

"Manchester United have to start getting it right otherwise they will struggle, but it was a good start yesterday."

Credit: Skysports.com