It it uncertain whether or not Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be ultimately considered for the permanent Manchester United managing vacancy, but he certainly made his desires and ambitions clear during his first news conference as interim boss.
“I understand there are so many managers that would love to be manager of Manchester United,” Solskjaer said at his news conference on Friday. “I am one of them, but it is not something we have talked about. I didn’t think twice when they called me to sign me as a player and this is an honor and privilege to be helping the club for a few months.”
After paying £15 million to part ways with manager Jose Mourinho, United then gave Swedish side Molde £1.8 million to “loan” their manager and make him the caretaker boss for the rest of the season.
The 45-year-old Norwegian is a club legend, due to his playing days as a prolific forward, so he does have a decent amount of support among the fan base. Given how things have just not gone so well with the three outsiders that United have tried since Sir Alex Ferguson retired (David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and the aforementioned Mourinho), it may not be the worst idea to possibly try someone who is part of the MUFC family.
The manager of United’s rival, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, sees that as an advantage for Solskjaer. At his Friday news conference, Guardiola sees some parallels to his career arc with FC Barcelona.
“When a young manager like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has this chance, it’s because the club decided he can do it,” Guardiola said at his weekly press conference.
“I was quite similar, we were young and were given this opportunity. I had done different jobs, you cannot compare playing to being manager, I wish him all the best.”
“I was there [Barcelona] since 13-years-old, you know the club that’s an advantage for sure, knowing the people and how it works, everything, it’s important yes. it’s important. you have been there in he past and you know many things about the club, that’s something positive.”
For Solskjaer, his first match in charge comes against a side he once managed, albeit not very well, in Cardiff City.
United vs Cardiff City FYIs
Kick-off: 5:30 pm (BST), 12:30 pm (EST), Saturday December 22, Cardiff City Stadium
Google Result Probability: Manchester United win- 60%, Draw 24%, Cardiff City win- 16%
Odds via Odds Shark: United win 100/167, draw 14/5, Cardiff City 5/1
Injury Report for both sides: go to this link
United Starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Prediction: United 3, Cardiff City 1
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.