Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 'didn't think twice' about signing on as Manchester United stopgap manager

Norwegian smiled throughout packed news conference at Aon Training Complex, where prospect of staying on after season is in back of his mind

FILE PHOTO: Football Soccer - Manchester United Reserves v Aston Villa Reserves Barclays Premier Reserve League Play-Off Final - Old Trafford Manchester, Britain - 3 May, 2010   Manchester United reserves manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer    Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff/File Photo
Powered by automated translation

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had no hesitation in answering Manchester United's call and would love to be considered for the manager's job on a permanent basis.

A poor start to the season, coupled with dressing room tensions, cost Jose Mourinho his job on Tuesday, with the club moving swiftly to bring in their former striker and reserve team manager.

Solskjaer has joined United for the remainder of the 2018/19 season in a temporary move from Norwegian club Molde and will kick off his caretaker reign at Cardiff on Saturday.

"I didn't think twice when they called me to sign me as a player, and obviously this is more of an honour and privilege to be helping the club for a few months I have to say," he said.

"It's until the summer now, so it's five or six months, just help out in the meantime while the club is doing a process to get the next manager from the summer onwards."

Asked about the reception from the players, he added: "They're footballers, they're happy, it has been a good mood. Every time you meet new people, you're excited, it's the first time you see a few of them."

______________

Read more:

Premier League predictions: Manchester United make winning start under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Ian Oxborrow: As Mourinho exits Man United, which Premier League manager is next to leave?

In pictures: From Matt Busby to Jose Mourinho - list of the Manchester United managers

______________

Solskjaer added: "I know a few of them from before, of course, I've had a couple of them in the reserves and I've seen some of the kids grow up when I was a player even, so they have been great."

Solskjaer smiled throughout a packed news conference at the Aon Training Complex, where the prospect of staying on after the season is naturally in the back of his mind.

"When you get a job like this and they ask you to sign for six months, you say 'yeah, I'm happy to help out'," he said.

"Of course, my job now is just for the next six months to do as well and move the club forward as well as I can.

"I understand there are so many managers who would love to be manager of Manchester United, so of course I'm one of them but it's not something that we've talked about.

"They're going to do a process now for the next six months."