Ole: Perth is ideal for our preparations
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has held his first press conference of the 2019/20 season in Perth, with the Manchester United boss revealing his hugely positive first impressions of Western Australia.
The Reds landed Down Under on Sunday 7 July, and play their first pre-season fixture against local outfit Perth Glory on Saturday, but first on the agenda are some tough training sessions and adjusting to our new temporary home.
"It's been very good so far, I have to say," Ole said. "Now we're just getting over the jet-lag. It's time now for the boys to have a little bit of an afternoon off so they can see more.
"We'll definitely have time to explore a little bit more but, at the moment, as I've just said, we're getting over the jet-lag and training. Today's session was a little big longer and very good."
The Reds have been training at the iconic WACA [Western Australian Cricket Association] ground in Perth, which has hosted numerous famous cricket matches between Australia and England since 1970, and the Norwegian admitted that he and his staff feel privileged to be able to train on the hallowed turf.
"To be honest, I'm not a big cricket fan," explained Ole, who grew up playing football and following in the footsteps of his father, a champion Greco-Roman wrestler. "But some of my staff and players are big cricket fans, and it's great to be able to train at this fantastic stadium.
"I've been told all about Ian Botham's 6-for-78 here [in the first Ashes Test in 1979). They're proud Englishmen who have been talking about this stadium, and I've heard a lot about it."
The match against Perth Glory on Saturday (kick-off 12:00 BST) will take place at the nearby Optus Stadium, which lies just across the Swan River from the WACA, and Solskjaer also noted that the club are keeping a close eye on pitch conditions ahead of the fixture.
"I will have a look before the game," said the former United striker. "Our ground-staff are there today and it's just outside my hotel window, so I see the lights every night. It looks a fantastic stadium."
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