The man is definitely Manchester United through and through. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has brought the joy back to Old Trafford, and it is hard not to like the man. Even if his three convincing wins have come against poor opponents, the man's general demeanour has lifted the mood at the club.
Ahead of tomorrow's game against Newcastle, the Norwegian was asked about the contract situations of Anthony Martial and David De Gea, both of whom have 18 months left on their deals. Solskjaer made it clear the club wanted them to stay:
I know the club wants them to sign, of course, because they are top quality players.
It’s down to the players, but when you’re at Man United there isn’t a lot of greener grass on the other side. You are at the best place. It’s the biggest club in the world.
He was speaking personal experience. Having been at Old Trafford for 11 years as a player, he knows what it's like to wear the famous red jersey. Solskjaer admitted there were times when he had the opportunity to leave the club, but even when United had agreed to sell him to Spurs, he never considered moving on:
If you are a regular at Manchester United, I think you should grasp the opportunity to stay here and become part of the history.
I had loads of offers and possibilities to move but the manager [Sir Alex Ferguson] sat me down and told me I was going to be an important part of his team, his squad, and I was going to play enough games. I felt privileged to play here.
I am also stubborn. The club agreed to sell me to Spurs one time and I said, ‘No, thank you’. My agent wanted me to go but I knew I was at the best place. I wasn’t sure the grass was greener somewhere else.
United fans will be hoping that Solskjaer's commitment to the club will rub off on the likes of De Gea and Martial.
