Ole: We get what we deserve

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer feels hard work, rather than fate, is the reason why he's back at Manchester United 20 years after his greatest season in our no.20 shirt.

Solskjaer will forever be remembered for his dramatic late winner in the 1998/99 Champions League final against Bayern Munich at the Nou Camp. When asked at Friday's press conference if he was destined to return to the club in 2018/19, the caretaker manager replied:

“There have been a couple of comments like ‘you used to have number 20, blah blah blah’, and all this fate. But I believe that you get what you deserve in life.

“In sport, I do believe that if you work hard, show the right attitude, go in everyday and do the right things, then you can maximise your chances anyway.”

Solskjaer was speaking ahead of United's Emirates FA Cup tie away to Wolves, the third top-seven team the Reds have been drawn against in this season's competition. Such a run bears comparison with a memorable one he was involved in as a player, again in 1999.

“To win trophies you’ve got to win at least one or two really tough games that are like defining moments,” said the Treble winner.

“Back then, we beat Liverpool, we beat Chelsea and we beat Arsenal.”

So far in this season’s FA Cup, United have beaten Reading at Old Trafford before winning away at Arsenal and Chelsea.

“You think you deserve a little bit of luck in the draw next time but Wolves away, what a difficult game that can be,“ assessed Ole.

”As for comparisons [with 1999], well we’re not challenging to win the league this year but we’re challenging for the other two trophies.”

While the title may be out of reach this season, Solskjaer still feels that momentum gained from victories in the cup competitions can help United in the league.

“The more games you win, the more confidence it breeds, and the more hunger there is in the players,“ he said.

”Every single game that you win puts another layer on the way to becoming the team that we want to be. I don't agree when people say teams should go out of this and this to focus on that.”