Manchester United manager Solskjaer: 'I've already got advice from Sir Alex'
The Norwegian is hoping to turn around Man Utd's poor season - and he's already consulted the club's legendary ex-manager.
Friday 21 December 2018 12:02, UK
New Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said he has "already been in touch" with club legend Sir Alex Ferguson for advice.
Solskjaer, 45, who was appointed until the end of the season following the sacking of Jose Mourinho on Tuesday, faces Cardiff City on Saturday in his first Premier League game in charge.
The Norwegian played under Sir Alex during one of the club's most successful periods, scoring the winning goal when they won the Champions League in 1999 to complete a historic treble.
He told reporters at his first news conference that since taking over "I have already been in touch with him (Ferguson) because there's no one to get better advice from."
Solskjaer said: "He's influenced me with everything, to be fair.
"The way he's dealt with people, the way he was manager of the club. How he kept 25 international players happy and hungry, wanting to improve, but also the staff in and around the place..
"He's been my mentor but I didn't understand early on that he'd be my mentor," he added.
Solskjaer, who spent more than 11 years at Old Trafford as a player and coach, after being signed by the Scot, said he had no hesitation in accepting United's offer.
"When you get a job like this and they ask you to sign for six months, you say 'yeah, I'm happy to help out'.
"It has been a third of my life. It feels great to be home."
Off-field tensions, particularly with the club's most expensive signing Paul Pogba, marked the end of Mourinho's two and a half years in charge, and Solskjaer said Sir Alex's example is the one he will follow.
"It's down to man-management. I've had the best manager as player and coach, to learn how he deals with people. It's about communication."
It is debatable whether even Sir Alex could rescue the club's campaign, following United's worst-ever start to a Premier League season.
They are 19 points behind leaders Liverpool after losing 3-1 to their rivals on Sunday, and 11 points off the crucial top four places.