OLE SOLSKJAER says the hurt of watching Liverpool win this season’s title will spur his side on to knock them back off their perch.
That is what Sir Alex Ferguson did when he came to Old Trafford and it has taken their fiercest rivals 30 years to get back on it.
Now Manchester United boss Solskjaer wants their stay to be very brief.
Solskjaer said: “Any team that wins the Premier League deserves it. They deserve credit. It is a hard league to win. Credit to Jurgen and his players.
“But every time you see anyone else lift a trophy, it hurts. That’s the feeling everyone associated with Manchester United. We want to get back to winning ways. That is our challenge.”
Solskjaer was part of a dynasty established under Sir Alex Ferguson who ended a run of 26 years without a title at Old Trafford with 13 in the space of 20 years as they dominated the domestic game.
That of course is now Liverpool’s challenge again, but Solskjaer can’t see it happening.
He said: “A run of titles like we had under Sir Alex Ferguson will not be easy for anyone to copy. He was a master of staying at the top.
“Our challenge is to make sure it is not 26 years or more before we win it. We need to shorten the distance or go past them.”
Solskjaer is seeing signs that his new team can do just that as well as he starts to get the consistency of performance in a 13 match unbeaten run, needed to win trophies.
Every time you see anyone else lift a trophy, it hurts. That’s the feeling everyone associated with Manchester United. We want to get back to winning ways. That is our challenge
He said: “The consistency and efficiency they have shown. That is a challenge for us as well. At our best we are very good. We have to do it again and again. That is the challenge for us going forward.
“We have to get into Champion League, get higher up the league and start challenging for trophies.”
While Solskjaer used to talk of expecting highs and lows on his managerial journey at United now he just wants an upward trajectory with no excuses.
He said: “I expect the players to turn up every time they get a chance to perform for Manchester United. I don’t expect bumps.
“You don’t go looking for them. We are on the right track. Every game is a game you can win.
“We have shown what we can do at our best.
“Gaps between the lows getting bigger. I am not looking for bumps.”
Right now the challenge in the league remains a place in the top four this season but United still have the target of a Cup double.
They have one foot in the last eight of the Europa League and this weekend travel to Norwich City for an FA Cup quarter-final.
Solskjaer knows how important it is for his new team he has formed to get that first piece of silverware.
He said: “The FA cup is a fantastic tournament and final to be a part of and trophy to lift.
“This is a new team and to get our hands on first trophy would be fantastic and hopefully catalyst for what is to come.”
Nothing as good as good old failure to keep us on the edge and challenge us to be the best right? Good looking out to Mr Ole Solskjaer
Source: thesun.co.uk