Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer claims credit for some of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney’s tricks and flicks.
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has jokingly demanded credit for some of the skills shown by Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney during their time with the Premier League giants.
Solskjaer coached both players after hanging up his boots as a United player – and said he “did try to teach them a few things”.
Solskjaer was a cult hero at Old Trafford, with the striker obtaining six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and the European Cup during 11 years spell with United.
He regularly had to be satisfied with a role as a ‘super sub’ – and his most memorable moment was arguably when he came off the bench to score the last-gasp victor against Bayern Munich in the 1999 Champions League final.
That capped a dramatic comeback and a historic treble for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, and next summer Solskjaer will aim to follow in his former manager’s footsteps as he looks to end the club’s long wait for the Premier League title.
The 48-year-old’s journey to the United hot seat began after he hung his boots in 2007 – when he started coaching United’s forwards including Ronaldo and Rooney.
And he said he taught the superstars a few of the tricks he had learned as a player as he looked to establish himself at Old Trafford amid intense competition for attacking places.
“I did try to teach them a few things,” Solskjaer has said of those early days passing on his expertise to a new generation of United players.
“I think I’ve got more knowledge than most of making the most out of your opportunities.
I was never the quickest, never the strongest or tallest, so I had to be clever.
“Every time when Wayne or Cristiano shifted the ball to the side and put it back through the legs of the defender, and the goalkeeper’s just stranded, I used to nudge my kids and say, ‘Your dad’s taught them that!'”
Asked what else he had passed on to United’s players, Solskjaer said: “Apart from that I think you’ve got to ask the players.
“I think I led more by example. I wasn’t the vocal one who went round and tried to tell anyone. I wanted to show with my attitude and what I did, day in day out.”
Meanwhile, Solskjaer has said he wants to bring more new signings to Old Trafford in the summer transfer window.
The United manager has already signed Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund and Tom Heaton on a free transfer, with Raphael Varane expected to be confirmed soon.
And in his program notes ahead of Wednesday’s 2-2 friendly draw against Brentford, he hinted at more new additions to come.
The manager wrote: “I’m absolutely thrilled that we have managed to conclude a deal for Jadon Sancho, who we regard as one of the most exciting young attackers in the game, while it’s also great to have Tom Heaton back home in our goalkeeping department once more.
“I’m hopeful that there might be a little more business done by us before the summer window closes, while I’m also mindful that a lot of our squad members underwent great development on loan last term, so there’s no question that we go into this season in better shape than last season.”
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