Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reveals thoughts on Jose Mourinho’s future in the game

It is a month since the divisive Portuguese was sacked by the Old Trafford giants as a poor start to the season compounded background discontent

Friday 18 January 2019 10:46 GMT
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Giuseppe Rossi impressed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer expects to see Manchester United predecessor Jose Mourinho back in management soon enough.

It is a month since the divisive Portuguese was sacked by the Old Trafford giants as a poor start to the season compounded background discontent.

Mourinho spoke in-depth for the first time since his exit in Thursday, when he told BeIn Sports that he is “too young” to retire and belongs at the top-level.

When those comments were put to Solskjaer, he said: “Yeah, why shouldn’t he? Because he’s a fantastic manager and with the results he’s had, I don’t think he’ll be struggling to find work.”

Solskjaer will look to extend his club-record winning start to life in the hot seat to a seventh match when Brighton visit on Saturday.

Chris Smalling and Marcos Rojo remain absent for United, while Marouane Fellaini now faces a period on the sidelines with a calf complaint.

“He’ll probably be (out) at least three or four weeks,” Solskjaer said. “He’s got a calf problem and that’s sad because there’s X factors in different players and we all know Felli’s X factor.

“Then again, he’ll be working hard to get back in when all the big games are coming as well.”

Alexis Sanchez will be available for United, having trained all week after missing the 1-0 win at Tottenham with a minor issue.

“In the Reading game, maybe he should have told me at half-time ‘I need to come off now’ because the 15-20 minutes he played in the second half maybe that was too much for him and that gave him a setback,” Solskjaer said.

“So, he’s champing at the bit, I have to say. He’s working hard in training. His attitude in training has been fantastic and he wants to play, so I’m looking forward to seeing him. But I’ve got loads of good players to choose from.”

Fellaini’s injury means that Scott McTominay, who had been linked with a loan move away from Old Trafford in the January window, is unlikely to be allowed to leave the club.

Solskjaer revealed that talks are underway to extend the Scotland international’s stay at the club but was reluctant to weaken their midfield options.

PA

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