Solskjaer: Trophies More Important For United Than Top Four Finish

29th January 2019

Manchester will host Burnley FC in an English Premier League clash at Old Trafford on Tuesday night

Manchester United's Norwegian caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrates following the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on January 2, 2019. Manchester United won the match 2-0. PHOTO/AFP
Manchester United's Norwegian caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer celebrates following the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on January 2, 2019. Manchester United won the match 2-0. PHOTO/AFP
SUMMARY
  • Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says trophies are more important for Manchester United than a top-four finish as he targets success in two cup competitions over the second half of the season
  • Tottenham's Mauricio Pochettino, still in the frame to become United's eventual long-term manager, has claimed a top-four finish and Champions League football is his club's primary target and not silverware
  • Despite Solskjaer's hunger for silverware, the realities of modern football mean the importance of qualifying for the Champions League cannot be underestimated

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says trophies are more important for Manchester United than a top-four finish as he targets success in two cup competitions over the second half of the season.

A run of eight successive victories to start his caretaker reign at the club has transformed a campaign that appeared to be heading nowhere under his predecessor Jose Mourinho.

United are still in the FA Cup and Champions League, while vastly improved league form now has the Reds looking at a potential best-case scenario of finishing third in the Premier League.

READ MORE: Mourinho Compensated By Manchester United, Free For Real Job

Tottenham's Mauricio Pochettino, still in the frame to become United's eventual long-term manager, has claimed a top-four finish and Champions League football is his club's primary target and not silverware.

But Solskjaer, who won many trophies at Old Trafford as a player under Alex Ferguson, has other aims.

"I am not here to discuss what Pochettino says and what other managers say but we are about winning trophies, of course we are," said Solskjaer.

READ MORE: Arsenal, Manchester United To Renew Rivalry In English Domestic Cup

"And we can't win the league this year, we are still in the cup, we are going to try to win the FA Cup of course. I think every manager wants to win every game so I don't think that is the point he was making.

"If you win trophies that's a fantastic day for everyone in the club, it's just the best time of your life, that day when you win because you never know when the next one is going to come."

Despite Solskjaer's hunger for silverware, the realities of modern football mean the importance of qualifying for the Champions League cannot be underestimated.

READ MORE: Three Things Man United Need To Fix As Solskjaer Takes Temporary Charge

"That's not the dream though, to be top four," he said. "We're Man United, you should always aim to win the league. We can't do that this year but we've just got to look forward to that again because we have to get back to that.

"We've got the Champions League, we've got the FA Cup, we can't just say 'top four and that's it'. We've got to look at 'can we win something this year?' and I go into every single game as a Man United manager thinking we can win this game."

Solskjaer is still looking for Brazilian midfielder Fred, a £52 million ($68 million) summer signing from Shakhtar Donetsk by Mourinho, to start justifying his price tag.

READ MORE: Manchester United Give Mourinho The Boot, To Pay Him Over KSh2.867 Billion

Fred has started just two games under Solskjaer, completing about an hour on both occasions, although his manager said he could see improvements.

"I don't think it's my challenge to incorporate players, it's about the players being ready when they get the chance and Fred's been working really hard in training," he said.

"He's a good lad, same with Andreas (Pereira), he's working really hard, you've got Scott (McTominay).

READ MORE: Manchester United Forward Sanchez Out With Hamstring Injury

"And when they get the chance, because they will, we want to see improvement. We know there's a very, very good player there with Fred so hopefully he'll adjust to the English game because there’s no doubt there's talent, absolutely no doubt."