Solskjaer hopes to emulate ’99 treble winners

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has told ESPN FC he wants to build a Manchester United team in the mould of his fellow 1999 Treble winners while adding he is not worried that Manchester City could surpass their achievement by winning the Quadruple.

Solskjaer is two weeks into his spell as permanent manager after penning a three-year deal to replace Jose Mourinho on a full-time basis.




The Norwegian has pressing short-term aims including finishing in the top four and Barcelona’s visit to Old Trafford in the Champions League quarterfinals on Wednesday — but is already looking further ahead and, 20 years on from United’s most successful season, the 46-year-old said he is aiming to build a team with the same fight and spirit.

“We challenged each other every day in training,” Solskjaer told ESPN FC. “There were fights and there was an inner justice that I’ve not seen in too many teams.

“We never, ever accepted anyone being below par in training. We kicked each other and we had to win every single day. That moved over into games and we never gave in. There was an unbelievable team spirit.

“I want my players to really push each other and demand 100 percent attitude from each other every single day. That’s the only way you can improve and it’s the only way you can win. We had something special.

“It’s a different group now and the challenge is: ‘How can I make these players winners as we were?’”

Solskjaer has signed up to play in a Treble reunion game with the entire cast of 1999 against Champions League opponents Bayern Munich at Old Trafford on May 26 — exactly 20 years on from his winner in the Camp Nou.

Source:AFP