Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can’t wait for ‘special’ Old Trafford return as Manchester United manager in front of ‘best fans in the world’

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer can’t wait for ‘special’ Old Trafford return as Manchester United manager in front of ‘best fans in the world’
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer cannot wait to lead Manchester United out at Old Trafford for the first time on Boxing Day as he aims to bring the feelgood factor back to the club.Having been parachuted in as caretaker manager for the rest of the season, the fan favourite got the post-Jose Mourinho era off to a dream start with a 5-1 victory at Cardiff City.3

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrates Manchester United’s victory at Cardiff

United ran amok at Solskjaer’s former club Cardiff, as they netted five goals in a Premier League match for the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in May 2013.Boxing Day offers an opportunity to secure another exciting win as struggling Huddersfield arrive at Old Trafford for a match that will leave the Norwegian pinching himself as he manages “back home” in the hotseat.

---

Classic Premier League Boxing Day fixtures, including Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham

---

“Of course, you try to keep your emotion in check because I’m there to do a job, I’ve got to be focused,” Solskjaer said.“It’s not easy, I don’t think it will be easy, but I’m looking forward to it and I think the boys are looking forward to playing at Old Trafford.“That’s the key, we should be looking forward to playing there.“I was sat next to Rene Meulensteen in a reserve-team game once as a coach, second half, and I was there with Cardiff. But, of course, it will be special.”3

Jesse LIngard and Anthony Martial celebrate the Frenchman’s goal against Cardiff in the 5-1 win

Solskjaer is looking to become just the fifth manager in United’s history to kick off their reign with back-to-back league wins – a result that would provide another timely shot in the arm.United have managed to win just five of 12 matches at Old Trafford in all competitions so far in this disappointing campaign, with the pressure appearing to be too much for players at times.“That comes when you sign for Man United,” Solskjaer said. “You know you’re going to play in front of the best fans in the world.“Confidence is not something you store into the fridge and pick out.“You earn it by your performances, by your training, how you feel. Hopefully this gave them a boost, so I’m happy and looking forward to Boxing Day.”Solskjaer knows all about such pressure having represented United for 11 years as a player, with the pinnacle being his Champions League final winner that sealed the treble in 1999.3

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer makes an emotional return to Old Trafford on Boxing Day

But there were rough patches and periods of criticism from onlookers and pundits – something that got under the skin of predecessor Mourinho during his tenure.A number of Solskjaer’s former team-mates were among the most outspoken critics, but the Norwegian will not baulk at comments made by the likes of Paul Scholes, Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville.“Don’t worry, Gary will be really hard on me,” he said, smiling. “I sat next to him in the dressing room for 11 years. He was next to me and you know Gary!“He’s paid now to give his opinion and of course he should do. I’m no different to anyone else.“I’m no different to any other manager when you lead that team out onto the pitch. It comes with a responsibility but my job is to get the players enjoying themselves.” There was no need to worry about negative comments at Cardiff as United played with style and purpose – perhaps even raising expectations of what Solskjaer can achieve.“You can never set the bar too high,” he said. “They’re setting the standard. The players who play for this club have high standards to live up to.“Today, it’s not like they were outperforming themselves.“We want to look at this game. We’ll evaluate, look at a few clips and as I said earlier we can better, we can understand each other better.”Few expect the air of positivity at United to dissipate on Boxing Day, when Solskjaer will be welcomed by the ’20LEGEND’ banner that has been put back up at Old Trafford.“They’re the best fans in the world,” he added. “Of course, I have my history at the club and to see that banner is special.“I just hope in the next five months I’ll do a good enough job for them to keep singing my name.”

---

Georgian player Jano Ananidze tries to help Schar during the Euro 2020 qualifier A brain injury charity wants Uefa to investigate why Fabian Schar was allowed to carry on playing for Switzerland after being knocked unconscious in a Euro 2020 qualifier. Schar collided with Georgia's Jemal Tabidze and received emergency help.
Fabian Schar head injury: 'Players lives are at risk

---

Champions League overtime rules: How extra time, away goals and penalties work Since there must be a winner at the end each Champions league knockout round matchup, here's how a winner is
Away goals rule - Wikipedia

---

~ Manchester City 2-0 Cardiff: Pep Guardiola's men breeze past Bluebirds to retake top spot ~ Kenya Latest. Skip to content. Kenya Latest.
Manchester City 2-0 Cardiff: Pep Guardiolas men breeze past

---

Amsterdam: A halftime visit to the Tottenham Hotspur dressing room by injured striker Harry Kane helped inspire his side's remarkable 3-2 victory over Ajax Amsterdam in the Champions League semi-final on Wednesday.
Champions League: What Harry Kane did at half-time that

---

Manchester United could lose Marcus Rashford with the player now delaying talks about a new contract after their dire end to the Premier League season. The striker has one year left on his current deal, although the club do have the option to extend it by another campaign.
Marcus Rashford 'Stalling' on New Manchester United Contract

---

ARSENAL have reportedly launched a £14million bid for Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas. Spanish newspaper Sport claims the Gunners are targeting another shot-stopper following Bernd Leno's
Arsenal transfer news: How Gunners could look next season
fussboll.com/2019/05/22/arsenal-transfer-news-how-gunners-could-look-next-season-without-lacazette-and-ozil//
Elsewhere, Arsenal must find a replacement for retiring goalkeeper Petr Cech, with Madrid's Keylor Navas a possible option to rival Bernd Leno. With all that said, here is how the Gunners could look next season:
Transfer Arsenal make £14 million bid for Real Madrid star

---

Chelsea star Eden Hazard will push through 'dream' move to

---

Paul Pogba transfer latest: Manchester United stars 'openly

---

Aaron Ramsey leaving Arsenal on a free is CRIMINAL especially

---

Apr 27, 2019 · Goals from Mario Vrancic and Marco Stiepermann secure Norwich a 2-1 win against Blackburn and clinch the Canaries Premier League football next season after a promotion he described as "a
Norwich City return to the Premier League

---

The Reds legend responded to those rumours in his latest interview monitored by the Daily Mail as he revealed that Liverpool have not said that the England international striker is available for a transfer. Dominic Solanke has repeatedly linked with a loan transfer to Scottish Premier League outfit Rangers next month as a replacement for two
African All Stars Transfer News & Rumours: Taiwo Awoniyi set

---

ALISON BOSHOFF asks why the star was being feted by the country's cultural elite; If Brendan Rodgers' dominant Celtic set a new record they deserve to be fully acclaimed as 'The History Bhoys
The Thoughts Of Vicious Sid - Eye on Spain

---

Arsenal boss Unai Emery refused to criticise Sokratis Papastathopoulos after his red card contributed to the Gunners' collapse in their 3-1 UEFA Europa League defeat to Rennes on Thursday.. The
Unai Emery Admits Arsenal Are Finding UEFA Europa League

---

The 2017-18 Premier League was the 26th season of the Premier League, the top English professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1992. The season started on 11 August 2017 and concluded on 13 May 2018.
List of Premier League seasons - Wikipedia

---

Jose Mourinho thinks Tottenham could be set for a trophy spree if they win the Champions League against Liverpool. Mauricio Pochettino is yet to win a trophy in charge of Spurs but has inspired a
Tottenham stuns Man City to reach Champions League semis

---