Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Read every word from Solskjaer's press conference

Friday 04 December 2020 14:36

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was asked about a range of topics during Friday's pre-match press conference, including his thoughts on Hammers boss David Moyes.

The pair will go head-to-head on Saturday when Manchester United travel to West Ham United for our early evening kick-off in the Premier League, and Ole was quizzed on whether he and the Scotsman have ever discussed the pressures that come with managing the Reds.

Journalists also asked Ole via video link about our form, the prospect of moving into the top four, Norway's new national-team coach and much more.

So you don't miss a trick, we've typed up every word spoken by Ole during the first half of his pre-match press conference...

West Ham v United: Watch Ole's press conference Video

West Ham v United: Watch Ole's press conference

Watch the manager's press conference for his thoughts on West Ham, Rashford's injury and our new signings...

What’s the situation with team news? Marcus [Rashford] is one that I’m particularly interested in hearing about…
“Marcus has been training this morning, not fully, but he’s joined in with the group. His shoulder stopped him finishing the game [against PSG]. He’s getting treatment and hopefully he’ll be part of the squad that travels. He’s having treatment now after training.”

Is there anybody else that will be missing? Also, will it be weird playing in front of fans again?
“It’ll be great playing in front of fans; we’re looking forward to it. Of course, we won’t have our fans but we’ll just have to use the energy, or thrive off the home fans and make them quiet. Hopefully, we can make them edgy. We’re looking forward to it. It’s great to see fans back in the stadium. Of course, we want it at Old Trafford as well. Hopefully, we’ll get that soon because football is not the same. It’s not been the same. Of course, we’re a bit bruised and disappointed after Wednesday night, but helpfully we’ll be ready to go again tomorrow.”
You seem to be struggling with consistency for a while now. You get great results in Europe, but not in the Premier League. You get great results in the Premier League, but then a defeat in Europe in midweek. Why is it proving so hard for you to find the consistency, do you think? And how long do you think it will take to find it?
“It depends on how many games you want to go back. Football is a game with human beings and they live their own lives. We’ve played against some fantastic teams. Go 30 games back, or 40 games back, and I think we’re one of the most consistent teams, performance-wise, in the Premier League. Of course, you’re disappointed when you lose a game. I thought we played really well on Wednesday. It’s fine margins at times that can decide a game, if you win or you lose. The PSG game, the performance was miles better than say West Brom, for instance, but we win against West Brom and we don’t get three points against PSG. I think we’re getting fewer bad performances. I think we’re getting more and more consistent. You can never control the result in the end, that is decided by fine margins.”

If you win the game tomorrow then Manchester United could find themselves in the top four. After what’s been a difficult start to the season, after a short turnaround time from the last season, how much of an achievement would that be?
“Of course, it would be good for all sorts of reasons. We know that we’ve got a game less, of course. But we’ll get that back at some stage as well. With the pre-season being short as it was, to be able to move closer to the top would be a great achievement at this point. But, it’s a long season. Of course, we’ve shown some great consistency away from home this season. Hopefully, we can continue that.”

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I don’t think we’ve asked you this before, but David Moyes has done well...
“I’ve had similar questions on three or four things that we’ve spoken about. It’ll be interesting to hear your new one…"

He understands the scrutiny you’re under. He understands the pressure of being Manchester United manager. I just wonder if that’s something you’ve discussed with him in the last couple of years?
“No, I haven’t sat down and had discussions with David, no. Of course, when you’re here, it’s the biggest club in the world and it’s a different animal to anything else. But we’ve had other discussions and I really admire David for what he’s done in his career. You can just see now the way West Ham performed, and the results they’re getting, show his qualities.”
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Classic Match: United 7 West Ham 1

Let's head back to 1 April 2000 and a stunning 7-1 win over the Hammers, when Paul Scholes scored a hat-trick…

I’m a bit late to proceedings, so I’m not sure if you’ve been asked about team news yet - have you?
“Yes, I’ve been asked, but there’s not much to say. Marcus trained today, but not fully, but he was part of the squad. Hopefully, with the treatment he is getting he can travel. Luke [Shaw]’s not ready yet. Apart from that, we had a big squad training again.”

I know you’ve talked about the character and the impact that Bruno [Fernandes] has had on the side - [Edinson] Cavani seems to be having a similar impact. How important is that experience in the squad when you’ve got such a young side?
“Last season, we were the youngest team in the Premier League and we’ve been looking at ways to improve the squad, either being young talent or experienced ones, or, say, the likes of Bruno. The last year with the signings of Bruno, Alex [Telles], Donny [van de Beek], with Edinson being the last one to come in, I think the balance in the squad has been improved. He’s experienced. It’s just, one, his positioning, because he’s a different type of centre-forward and we can play a different way. The other bit is his experience in world football. He has come in and shown the young lads how to live your life and how to have a long career."
I have to ask you about Norway’s new national coach. Stale Solbakken got the job yesterday. What do you think about the appointment and will he be a success? Will he give Norway the group-stage spot in the Euros, which we have missed for 20 years now?
“I think Stale is a great signing for the national team. He’s a good friend of mine and it’s probably the least-hidden secret in Norwegian football that he managed to take over the national team. I feel Lars [Lagerback] has moved the team in the right direction. Hopefully, Solbakken can take it that step further and we can qualify. I’ll be having discussions with him of course, and we’ve been keeping in touch for the last few years anyway. It’s a great signing - of course you never like to see someone lose their job, especially when they’ve done well, but it’s probably a chance for Norway that we couldn’t say no to because Stale was available.”

I wanted to ask you about two young players - Facundo Pellistri came in, can I ask you about his development? But also, can you update us on whether Amad Diallo will join you in January or not? There are question marks about that…
“Facundo has come in, trained with the first team and done well. We felt now is the time for him to get game time and he’s played a couple of games in the Reserves. He’s gradually settling in nicely and getting more and more used to us. Amad, he’s come on a few times for Atalanta lately. He’s a very very exciting young boy and talented. Hopefully, we get the work permit and he’ll be with us in January.”

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