The manager of Manchester United, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has urged his critics to keep criticizing him ahead of the UEFA Champions League group stage game against Atalanta.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his boys are currently in Italy to take on one of their major contenders in Champions League Group F. In the first leg of the encounter, Manchester United waited until injury time before they could steal a 3-2 win over the Italian club at Old Trafford.
The win took Manchester United to the top of the Group with 6 points in three games while Atalanta are tied on four points with second-placed Villarreal.
Ahead of the return leg which will kick off at 21:00 later today, November 2, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who was under intense criticism after a 5-0 home defeat at the hands of Liverpool on October 24, said he enjoys criticism.
Recall after the humiliating defeat, the call for his sack became louder, especially on social media. The #Oleout trended on Twitter for days but the club’s board kept faith with the Norwegian tactician.
The set of people who have subjected Solskjaer to criticism the most are some of the club’s former players who are now working as pundits with British media.
Fortunately for Solskjaer, he and his coaching crew were able to come up with a plan to silence the critics at least for the moment – United defeated Tottenham Hotspur 0-3 at Spurs’ stadium 6 days after the humiliating defeat at the hands of Liverpool.
The United’s victory over Tottenham Hotspur on October 30, forced the London-based club to sack coach Nuno Espirito Santo.
During the pre-match press conference for Atalanta vs Manchester United Champions League game, Solskjaer reminded his critics that he and they have different jobs.
“Criticism can make you doubt yourself or you can stand up for yourself”, the coach said. “I’ve always enjoyed it, keep it coming.
“We’ve all got different jobs and it is their [pundits and former players] jobs to give their opinion. I am not here to fight with anyone.
“That’s fine. Journalists, pundits, experts, we all have different jobs.”
🗣"I've always enjoyed criticism."
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) November 1, 2021
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says to keep the criticism coming and that he's fine with it pic.twitter.com/PIEsymVkGf
On how Manchester United have changed after the 5-0 home defeat at the hands of Liverpool, Solskjaer admitted that the defeat has helped to unite his team more.
“We don’t have time for anybody to sulk, if you’re not in the starting XI, you are there to support your teammates”, he said on Monday.
“The attitude was spot on [versus Tottenham]. Players want to play, nobody is happy when they don’t. It is the team before any individual.
“The next one is the one which matters. We know when we get the consistency we will get results; one swallow does not make a summer.
“It is a chance tomorrow (Tuesday, November 2 against Atalanta) to prove we can go again.”
🗣"We don't have time for anyone to sulk or not give energy to the team."
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) November 1, 2021
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer makes it clear he has no time for players sulking pic.twitter.com/1zb3JyUoKZ
On the sack of coach Nuno by Tottenham Hotspur on Monday, Solskjaer added: “It’s never nice to see men, good men, lose their jobs. He’s been working hard.
“I don’t know what the situation has been or is at Tottenham so I can’t comment too much, but as a colleague you’re never happy when that happens – you try to get in touch with him and tell him your feelings.”
