Solskjaer's excited about the new year

The in-form Reds will be looking to record a fourth successive Premier League win under his stewardship as caretaker manager, when up against Newcastle United this evening (Wednesday).

The team travel to St. James’ Park for our first match of 2019 in confident mood and Ole is looking forward to seeing what can be achieved in the months ahead.

“I’ve got to say, going into the new year the way I've done, I've never done [before] but I'm so excited about the new year,” the Norwegian told MUTV.

“I'm just going to enjoy my time here now. Working with players of this quality, when you're a coach or a manager, you think 'this will be enjoyable'." 

‘PLAY LIKE A MAN UNITED TEAM’

United thumped Solskjaer’s former club Cardiff City 5-1 in his only away game in charge so far, before recording equally comfortable wins over Huddersfield Town (3-1) and Bournemouth (4-1) at Old Trafford.

Much like Cardiff and Huddersfield, Newcastle are embroiled in the battle to avoid relegation but have made life tough for top-half teams already this season on Tyneside – running Manchester City, Tottenham and Arsenal close in narrow 2-1 defeats.

However, Ole has reiterated his message that his players should concentrate on themselves and carrying on the momentum the Reds have been building.

“That’s what I say to the boys – if we’re thinking too much about the opposition, our own play will be diluted,” he said.

“So we should just focus on ourselves. Newcastle cause one problem different to what Bournemouth will do. So [we'll watch] one or two clips about the opposition, but the rest is about us. Play the way we should do, and play like a Man United team.

“Away from home, it doesn't have to be all-out attack, gung-ho, but of course it's going to be with a foundation and [then] go forward when we can.”

‘WE PLAYED SOME UNBELIEVABLE STUFF THAT DAY’

Solskjaer enjoyed some memorable matches against Newcastle during his playing days at United, scoring four goals in 14 appearances against them.

There is one match in particular that sticks out for Ole – a resounding 6-2 victory at St. James’ Park in April 2003, when he managed to get on the scoresheet in some style.

When asked for his standout memories of facing the Magpies, he recalled: “The goal I scored when I got a ball on the chest, a left-foot volley. I think we were one-nil down at that time, [Jermaine] Jenas scored a great goal, I think, and then the rest of that game we played some unbelievable stuff. I think we won 6-2 in the end. That game was a one-off really, because going up there is really tough, but in that game we were class.”

MUTV will show the full interview with Ole in the build-up to Newcastle v United. Matchday Live will be on air at 18:30 GMT, 90 minutes before kick-off at 20:00 GMT.

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