OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER has vowed to bridge the gap between the red and blue half of Manchester – and is determined to knock Liverpool off their perch again too.
Manchester United have fallen way behind their big rivals in the six years since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
Solskjaer has vowed to close the gap between Man Utd and CityCredit: Getty
The United boss wants to see his side above Man City where they belongCredit: Getty
But Solskjaer said: “As a club, the size of our club, we’re going to have to bridge that gap and our aim is to go past the teams above us.
“I believe at Man Utd that’s what we have to aim for, that’s what we have to go for and that’s what we have to believe in because we do have the resources and the people to do it, so why not?
“What are you going to do? Are you going to give up? Not challenge them? That’s what we’ve got to get back to.”
Liverpool are racing towards their first title in 30 years.
City have won four in seven years, three of them since Ferguson retired in 2013, including that domestic Treble last season.
Yet, ahead of today’s Manchester derby at the Etihad, Solskjaer was quick to point out that there was a time when City and United did not even play each other.
Solskjaer moved to Old Trafford in 1996 but it was not until April 2001 that he played in a Manchester derby — a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.
City had been bouncing around the lower leagues while United were winning titles and the Treble.
Solskjaer said: “At least we play every year now. It took many years before I played a Manchester derby myself. It’s changed in a way.
“City are a better team now than when I was playing, football has changed quite a lot also.”
Indeed it has. While David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho questioned whether they could play catch up given City’s wealth, Solskjaer wants none of it.
The 1999 Treble winner enjoyed too much success with Manchester United as a player to watch others scoop the big prizes while he is manager.
He won six titles under Fergie but the question now is will United win another one, having amassed a record 20? And how are things going to turn around?
Solskjaer said: “Don’t deviate from the plan we have set out and believe in what we’re doing behind the scenes.
“Believe in the players, believe in the coaching staff and, of course, believe that we’re gonna add to this squad with some very good players with recruitment.”
Solskjaer’s plan includes building a side based on youth and academy products for the long term with a sprinkling of established quality.
But when it comes to big buys like £75million Romelu Lukaku and big wages like the £505,000 a week handed to Alexis Sanchez, both of whom he has got rid of, forget it.
He said: “Do I look like I’m going to spend hundreds of millions of pounds on players that we’re not sure of?
“As I said, we need to rebuild, we need to change the culture, you want the culture with that hunger and selflessness that most of these players are showing.
“You’ve got the McTominays and Rashfords and Lingards, the players that know what Manchester United is.”
Solskjaer’s men are currently 22 points behind leaders Liverpool in sixth and 11 points behind third-placed City.
But it is Pep Guardiola’s side who he regards as still the best in the land.
He said: “They had an unbelievable season last year and are now trailing the teams in front of them.
“They have not had the results of last year but they’re still the best team in the league when they’re playing the way they can.”
When Manchester United play the way they can they can also be formidable opposition.
They turned in their best performance of the season in beating Tottenham 2-1 at home on Wednesday night.
The Red Devils also beat fourth-placed Chelsea 4-0, second-placed Leicester 1-0 and are the only club to take points off leaders Liverpool with a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.
Solskjaer said: “The way we played against Tottenham, if we can do that at the Etihad we can come out of it with a result.
“People say, ‘Why do you not have better results in other games?’ but the Premier League is hard, no matter who you play, it’s margins. It’s a compliment to the league.”
Solskjaer’s side enjoy it more when they play against sides who come at them, which is what City will be doing today.
He said: “It’s a chance for us now to challenge them and bridge that gap a bit, so we’re going there to win, we’re going there to get a result, even though we know it’ll to be difficult.”
Sadly for Solskjaer victory will only be about temporary bragging rights. Like it was for City in his day, when he finally got to play them.
This Saturday’s Premier league sees Everton take on Chelsea and Man City v Man Utd
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
