Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has vowed to ‘fight back’ and has backed himself to be a success at Manchester United.
Solskjaer’s position has come under increasing threat following last weekend’s 5-0 defeat to rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford, a humbling result which extended the Red Devils’ winless run in the Premier League to four fixtures.
The Norwegian is set to be given an opportunity to turn around the club’s faltering fortunes, but faces a defining week of fixtures as his side face Tottenham, Atalanta and Manchester City across the next week.
Key to improving his side’s fortunes will be assessing their defensive struggles, having seen United concede 11 goals across their past three fixtures in all competitions, whilst it is now just one clean sheet in 21 games.
Sir Alex Ferguson looked exasperated in stands following the defeat to Liverpool, and the legendary boss visited the training ground earlier this week as speculation about Solskjaer’s future was in full swing.
Ferguson himself had to overcome calls for his own head after a trophyless start to his career at Old Trafford before lifting the FA Cup in 1990, that victory ultimately being the first of a trophy-laden career at Old Trafford that delivered 13 league titles and two Champions Leagues.
Speaking ahead of the Red Devils’ trip to face Spurs this weekend, Solskjaer was asked if he could overcome such adversity and go on to deliver success, to which he gave a definitive answer, insisting Sir Alex’s presence was for ‘commercial stuff’.
“Yes, on both accounts,” he insisted at his pre-match press conference. “We had a commercial day, and Sir Alex came to do some commercial stuff.
“I met him and spoke to him just for a brief moment. He was in there with Cristiano (Ronaldo).
“I have been through some very bad moments here as a player and when I have been a coach and a manager as well. I have had to deal with set-backs.
“There have been two or three crises at least since I became the manager here and one thing I can say is that I will always give it a good shot and fight back.”
