Ahead of Manchester United's Emirates FA Cup semi-final with Chelsea, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has spelled out the importance of winning trophies at the club and stressed it stems from his former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Scot's elite mentality was the driving force behind years and years of success at Old Trafford and it was passed on to the Norwegian, who is keen to forge his own legacy at the helm.
With some people talking about how the competition may not be the priority for United or the Blues, with a place in the top four and next season's Champions League at stake in the final week of a gruelling end to the most unusual of campaigns, this does not fit with Ole's mindset.
Arsenal await the victors in the final on 1 August, following their surprise 2-0 victory over Manchester City, thanks to a goal in each half by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
“I think it's our duty and our responsibility as Man United players and staff to go for trophies,”
said Solskjaer. “As I've said here, I've never seen anyone celebrate a win or a trophy more than our gaffer. Sir Alex was vital.
“I still remember him coming to watch my first game as a reserve-team manager in the Lancashire Senior Cup against Liverpool, that was my first game, and knocking on my door at half-time because we were 1-0 down.
“He wanted to win, we needed to win that game, and we won it in the end. To turn around and see his smile after that. So that is a big, big thing for our club and for our players to get used to winning, in the habit of winning.”
United are looking to extend our unbeaten run to 20 games and beat Chelsea for the fourth time this term, following a Carabao Cup triumph at Stamford Bridge to go with a Premier League double over Frank Lampard's men.
“Well, first of all, we need to get to the final to have a chance to lift the trophy so definitely we're focused on this semi-final now against a good Chelsea team,”
added Ole. “We believe that this team that we're building will win trophies and there's no better way to kick it off than by getting an FA Cup trophy.”
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