Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has insisted the manager of Manchester United can never write off the importance of trophies and claimed he was already planning for next season – whether he is still at the club or not.
Mauricio Pochettino had reacted to Tottenham’s second cup exit in four days by suggesting that winning a trophy “only builds your ego” and that the “most important thing” was for Spurs to be competing consistently in the Champions League.
Tottenham’s 2-0 defeat by Crystal Palace in the FA Cup on Sunday came three days after they lost to Chelsea in the Carabao Cup semi-finals.
Pochettino is a leading candidate to become United’s next permanent manager but Solskjaer said winning silverware was part of the club’s DNA. United will move level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea if they beat Burnley at home tonigh.
“If you win trophies, that’s a fantastic day for everyone in the club, the best time of your life, because you never know when the next one is going to come,” Solskjaer said.
“The manager (Alex Ferguson) always said, whatever trophy you win, you have just got to enjoy it. I am not here to discuss what Pochettino says and what other managers say. I am just saying that, at this club, we are looking to win trophies.
“We’ve got the Champions League, we’ve got the FA Cup, we can’t just say top four and that’s it.”
Solskjaer wants to involve United’s rising academy stars more. “We have quite a few talents in that youth team that you’d like to see, and will see at some point before next season,” he said. “Mason (Greenwood), Jimmy Garner, Ethan (Hamilton) – it’s just about the right time.”
Brazil midfielder Fred has been a peripheral figure since his £52m move from Shakhtar Donetsk last summer and Solskjaer admitted he had struggled with the adaptation.
“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,” Solskjaer said.