Solskjaer exclusive: Let's end a big week on a high

The Norwegian celebrated his 47th birthday on Wednesday, an anniversary sandwiched between a 3-0 Premier League win over Watford and a 5-0 victory over Club Brugge which saw us progress to the last 16 of the Europa League.

In this interview with reporter Mark Sullivan, which took place at the Aon Training Complex on Friday, the boss previews our upcoming European tie against Austrian side LASK and discusses what the Toffees might have in store this afternoon.

You can read a transcript of Ole’s interview below, while the full video is available only in our Official App...

Ole, first and foremost, what are your thoughts on the Europa League draw that has paired us with LASK?
“Yeah, it's a new experience for us to play against them. The name is not very familiar for many, I would guess, but for me I've followed Austrian football a little bit and there's been quite a few Norwegians playing there. They've beaten Rosenborg this year in the group stages and, of course, Sporting, so Bruno has been involved against them. They beat [AZ] Alkmaar, who we've played in Europe. We'll get to know more about them but I guess Bruno can do the team talk!”

We've never previously played against them, although we have played eight times against Austrian opposition. You've scored in two of those games, against Rapid Vienna and Sturm Graz. It's always an interesting experience to play against a different opponent...
“Yeah, as long as you win you enjoy it. We've just got to focus on getting through. Name-wise, as I said, people might think it's one of the better draws you can get but for me they're underdogs who have done well in the group and to beat Alkmaar is a good feat, so we need to be focused again.”

In your experience of playing against Austrian opposition, what were those games like?
“They were high-intensity teams. Physical teams. For me, it's similar to when we played last night, to be fair. I think that Brugge you meet a different culture, the league is a bit different. I don't know too much about them, maybe a load of teams do their man marking, a high press. Bruno told me they do play expansive football, the goalkeeper joins in a lot with the play, so it'll be interesting.”

And some big games elsewhere in the competition, Sevilla v Roma, Rangers v Leverkusen and we avoided Wolves, who play Olympiacos. It was almost inevitable we were going to get Wolves, but we have avoided them...
“It's a good competition. Good teams in it, so hopefully we can get through to the quarters.”

It's been a good birthday week for you, hasn't it? Beating Watford and then a good win against Brugge. How important is it for you to finish strongly with a big performance at Goodison?
“I've never really been bothered about birthdays, but the more you get, the statistics says, the longer you live [laughs]! So I hope to get many, many more. This week's been a good one so far. It has to end on a high. Everton is a tough game, an important game, so all eyes on that one for us.”

And they're much improved aren't they under Carlo Ancelotti?
“Very much so. The results have picked up, the performances have definitely picked up. They create loads of big chances every game, they're always a threat with the big strikers Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison, a handful for any centre-backs and we know all about going there. We know too much about going there with this team. We lost last season, which we have to improve on.”

It was great to see Andre Gomes back. As a person who's played the game at the top level, you always feel for someone who has a serious injury like that...
“He's a fantastic player, first of all and the way that he's come back, less than four months after that bad injury, looking the way he does now, is fantastic. [It’s] great to see. Of course, I played with Alan Smith [who broke his leg against Liverpool], ourselves we know how difficult that can be. He must have been really doubting how long this would take, so it’s great to see him back.”

As for the team news, Anthony Martial missed out against Brugge. Any news on his fitness?
“No we don't know yet. We have to try, we hope, to get a fitness test done before the game. Odion [Ighalo] did really well in his place so we're well-equipped.”

How is everyone else following the Brugge game?
“Yes. Marcus [Rashford], Paul [Pogba], Anthony and Lee [Grant], they're the injuries we've got. We've got a big and strong squad.”

Healthy competition represents a good selection dilemmas for you...
“Great, it's fantastic. When you get the chance, when they take them, it's more difficult to leave players out.”

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