Ole Gunnar Solskjær has said that he is privileged to be named as permanent Manchester United manager.
Former Norway forward will always have a place in the affections of the Red Devils supporters for his last-gasp winner in the 1999 Champions League final in the treble-winning season, but he took over as permanent manager of the club maintaining that success in his present role would surpass anything he achieved as a player.
“People talk about a dream job – in my case this is literally that,” Solskjær told Guardian. “I have always visualised myself as a possible Manchester United manager. Maybe it was a naive dream but it has always been my ultimate one and now I’m here I feel so honoured and privileged.
“I don’t look back too much on what I achieved as a player, I always prefer to look forward, but obviously I enjoyed my time playing for United and I was quite successful. If I can leave here as a successful manager I’ll be happier still. I think bringing success in the form of trophies to this club and its supporters would count as an even bigger achievement.”
Solskjær is realistic enough to accept a top-four finish would be a satisfactory outcome this season – Champions League qualification was looking beyond José Mourinho – but said there was still a slim chance of a trophy.
That can only mean winning the Champions League, even though Barcelona are United’s quarter-final opponents. “As long as we are in it we have a chance,” he said. “It will be tough but we have climbed mountains before. The short-term target has to be qualification for next season, though. We have improved greatly in three months and given ourselves a great chance of finishing fourth or even third.”
