MANCHESTER UNITED manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hit back at his critics and told them to continue criticising him despite Manchester United's rancid form this season. The Norwegian's comments come after his Manchester United side beat Totthenham 3-0 on Saturday.
The former United forward has endured an up and down time at Old Trafford and was recently on the end of a 5-0 drubbing at Old Trafford at the hand of arch-rivals Liverpool.
The 5-0 loss should and could have brought an end to Solskjaer’s tenure, yet the United board have held firm on the decision not to sack the treble winner.
Next up for United is Manchester City this weekend after Tuesday’s Champions League group clash against Atalanta. This will tell a lot about the future of Solskjaer.
💬 "I cannot give you the gameplan or the tactics but we have the squad to play many different ways," adds the boss.
"On Saturday the quality of our play was more important than the system we played."#MUFC | #UCL— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 1, 2021
Solskjaer hits back
“You know, journalists, pundits, experts, we’ve all got different jobs and it’s their job to give their opinion.
“That’s their job. I’m not here to fight with them, I don’t need a spat with anyone.”
Asked if United had turned a corner by beating Spurs, he retorted: “Next one is the one that matters.
“We’ve been looking and working to get consistency and we know that when we get that consistency we’ll get results and performances.
“As I said, one swallow doesn’t make a summer and it’s important that we just keep focusing on what we did well in that game but improve on what we didn’t do as well.
“It’s relentless, it’s games every three days, it’s a chance tomorrow to prove that we can go again.”
Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked just four months into his Spurs reign, with ex-Chelsea boss Antonio Conte tipped to replace him.
“Of course (I have sympathy with Nuno),” Solskjaer said of the Portuguese’s departure.
“It’s never nice to see men, good men, lose their jobs. He’s been working hard.
“I don’t know what the situation has been or is at Tottenham so I can’t comment too much, but as a colleague you’re never happy when that happens – you try to get in touch with him and tell him your feelings.”
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 30: Tottenham Hotspur Manager Nuno Espírito (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)Three man defence
United moved to a three-man defence and stifled Spurs. This created a platform where Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani led the attack, both scoring along with Marcus Rashford.
“I cannot give you the game plan and the tactics of course, but we have a squad to play many different ways,” Solskjaer said when asked if it was a plan he intended to stick with.
“You can put any tactics out or system out, it’s the players within it and how they execute the role. That was the difference on Saturday.
“The quality of what we did was more important than the system we played.”
United and Solskjaer may retain a back three against Atalanta. United lead Group F and also have City to come.
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 30: Marcus Rashford of Manchester United (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)