Pep Guardiola defends Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ahead of derby
Solskjaer has come under pressure after United’s Champions League exit
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Pep Guardiola believes that the pressure Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is facing at Manchester United is part and parcel of being a manager and that he is strong enough to withstand the scrutiny.
Guardiola’s Manchester City travel to Old Trafford for the season’s first Manchester derby on Saturday, just days after United were knocked out of the Champions League by a 3-2 defeat to RB Leipzig.
Solskjaer retains the backing of the United hierarchy and goes into the derby ahead of City in the Premier League table for the first time, while Guardiola believes that pressure is something that all managers have to contend with at one point or another.
“We know it, that’s why we get a lot of salary for these situations,” the City manager said.
“It’s important to know the value of Solskjaer is there. There’s no doubt about this. I don’t have to give him support.
Read more: Why Manchester United’s derby blueprint may not work against new-look Man City
“He’s strong enough, he knows how it works, this job. When we win we are a genius and when we lose we have to be sacked.
“It happened at United and all the clubs around the world. It is the reality.”
Guardiola does not believe that United’s midweek disappointment gives City an advantage and if anything is expecting Solskjaer and his players to respond.
“[We prepare] thinking we are going to face the best version and especially talk a lot about what we are going to do,” he said.
“It’s not a knock-out game, it is three more points - important of course because of the quality of the opponent, but there are a lot of fixtures to come and we try to win our games.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments