Solskjaer After Signing With Man Utd: “This Has Been My Ultimate Dream”

Manchester United fans are celebrating today. Their wish has been granted. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will stay at Old Trafford until 2020, as a permanent manager of the most successful club in England.

After several weeks of waiting, the officials of the Red Devils finally decided to make a move, and since today, the Norwegian manager is not a temporary solution anymore.

For Solskjaer, this is one of the highlights of his life. And he wasn’t afraid to show that today.

“This has been my ultimate dream, maybe a naive dream,” he said. “But I’ve always had that dream in my mind.

Solskjaer is one of the icons of this club, spending 11 seasons at Trafford as a player, and scoring the legendary goal in 1999 Champions League finals which shocked Bayern Munich and brought the European title to Manchester.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KowdyHlX6Go

He knows what United is, and how the system here works, which is why he feels even more determined to give his best in the next three years.

“It’s a huge, fantastic family of a football club and I’m so honored to be given the responsibility.”

Since he sat on the bench of the Red Devils, the team came back from the dead and made several incredible results. In 19 games, United posted 14 wins, 3 draws and just two losses. The latest came against Arsenal, and that one snapped a 12-game unbeaten run in the Premiership, which lasted since Solskjaer took over the wheel.

The way United eliminated PSG in the Champions League was seen just a few times before in the club history, and immediately the fans began comparing the 46-years old with other managerial legends.

Solskjaer stated that he respects that, but that he would rather be himself than a copy of someone else.

“I’m just going to be myself as I’ve always been. I know the trade of course. I want us to lift trophies but I can’t wait to get to the challenge of improving the squad,”

When mentioning the improvement of the squad, what he did over the past three and a half months could only be described as magical. United now looks like a true powerhouse of European football. Yes, there is still a lot to be done, but if you just take a minute and remember the performances under Jose Mourinho, the difference is enormous.

For that, Solskjaer credits the players and their approach to training sessions and games.

“Every day in training the attitude has been fantastic, but we know we’ve a long way to go.”

He is perfectly aware that the expectations of the fans are very high, which could create enormous pressure, but believes that United can go back where it used to be before.

“It’s going to be a mountain to climb, but we’ve climbed a few mountains before.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxDgwmtrB-I&t=122s

Solskjaer, himself, conquered a couple of mountains with the Red Devils. The year 1999 is written in every football schoolbook, as an example of a perfect season. Back then, Manchester United won the Treble, with Solskjaer delivering the legendary dagger in the last moments of the Champions League finals against Bayern Munich at Camp Nou.

He will no doubt recall that memory, once his team clashes with Barcelona in the quarterfinals of the UCL. Spanish champions are the biggest favorites for winning the trophy, and United’s chances against them are pretty low.

But with the kind of attitude Manchester has after Solskjaer’s arrival anything is possible. We’ve seen that in Paris, and why not see it again.

For future plans, he specifically mentioned a Premier League title. That is his goal, and the only way that could be done is by being patient and taking one step at the time. And according to his words, there is no doubt that the results will come eventually.

“To lift the Premier League trophy again is what we expect, what we’re used to, what we have done so many times,” he said. “We can’t wait too many years, but it’s not going to happen overnight. I know we will be successful, but it’s about taking it step by step.”

United is ready to jump back in the saddle.

There is a new sheriff in town, and this one is here to stay for a long time.