“Not too many of today’s lot would have survived in that (Ferguson’s) dressing room”…
Former Manchester United manager and player Ole Gunnar Solksjaer has risen his head above the parapet prior to the club’s crunch game with Wolves on Saturday.
In a tell-all interview given before a public audience yesterday evening in Manchester, the Norwegian discussed everything from his criticisms of the Glazer Family, to how the club has slipped behind England’s other big sides.
However, Solksjaer reserved his most incendiary comments for his own playing squad whom he managed during his three year spell at the helm of the club.
Solksjaer scored the winning goal as United clinched a famous treble, overcoming Bayern Munich in the 1999 Champions League final. (Credit: Getty Images)Comparing the dressing room he oversaw to the one he played in under Sir Alex Ferguson, the Champions League winning striker was at pains to point out the differences in mentality.
Having played in a side which won an iconic treble in 1999 and won multiple Premier League titles during his time under Ferguson, Solksjaer described how that habit of winning had been lost at Old Trafford.
“The lads in that dressing room (Ferguson’s) were absolutely fantastic. Keane was the leader, the one everyone looked up to. David May was the joker, the clown. Neville is still the busiest and was the busiest back then as well. Butt and Giggsy were the entertainers”.
Going on to further lavish praise upon that star-studded United side of a by-gone era, Solksjaer recalled the elite mentality present amongst the players.
“It was just a fantastic dressing room. Winners, who hated losing. They had a few fights, like you should do, after bad games. You had to shake each other up”.
Solksjaer slammed the mentality of the playing squad he managed. (Credit: Getty Images)Although, broaching the comparison of the players he managed at Carrington, the Premier League winning striker was quick to point out the shift in attitudes between his playing days and the current crop at United.
“If you do that (confront) to the boys now, they will get their dad, or their mum, or their agents… snowflakes. Not many of today’s lot would have survived in that dressing room”.
Despite this critique of his playing squad, Solksjaer later admitted that the Red Devils still hold a special place in his heart.
“I have cried, as a grown man, twice in my life. The first time was after my testimonial. And then, a year and a half ago, when I had to leave. Manchester United just does something to you”.
Solksjaer will be in attendance at today’s game versus Wolves, in what will be his first time returning to the Theatre of Dreams since his 2021 dismissal.
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