Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has named a former Liverpool star as the “opposition player who caused me the most problems” in his spell as Manchester United manager.
Solskjaer left Old Trafford without lifting any silverware as United manager, with the Red Devils failing to lift the Europa League crown in the 2020-21 season.
Despite falling short of the Europa League title to Villarreal in 2021, Solskjaer did lead United to a second-place finish in the Premier League table behind Manchester City.
However, Solskjaer’s time in the United hotseat unravelled in the 2021-22 campaign and the former Red Devils forward would be sacked by the club in November 2021.
READ MORE: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer makes Harry Kane and Man United revelation, and admits signings limit
Solskjaer on frustrating opposition player
Solskjaer enjoyed high and low points at United, including the 14 wins in his first 19 matches as caretaker manager that propelled him to a permanent appointment.
The 50-year-old Norwegian, who succeeded Jose Mourinho as United manager, also witnessed his side suffer a crushing 6-1 defeat to Tottenham at Old Trafford in 2020.
Despite the defeat to Spurs, who were led by Mourinho at the time, Solskjaer revealed that he found it tough to play against United’s fierce rivals Liverpool.
The United legend added that one player who frustrated him the most as a manager was ex-Liverpool star Roberto Firmino, who signed for Al Ahli in the summer.
“In my last season, we played Liverpool at home,” Solskjaer told The Athletic.
“I felt the players were ready for it, just like I’d felt they were ready when we’d gone to City and won. We could have sat back and countered but my decision was to go for it.
“We lost 5-0. It was 50/50, more or less, in possession and chances at half-time, yet we were 4-0 down. I made the wrong decision and that was my lowest point as United manager by a mile.
“Roberto Firmino was probably the opposition player who caused me the most problems as a manager. The 6-1 defeat at home to Spurs was different and affected by a sending-off.”
Solskjaer opens up about United and beyond
Solskjaer has candidly spoken about his time at United in his interview with The Athletic, which included a signing that he wanted to “badly” make at Old Trafford.
The former United star also weighed in on Cristiano Ronaldo’s second spell at the club and whether or not he made the right call to bring his ex-teammate back.
Solskjaer reflected on United’s penalty shootout defeat to Villarreal in the Europa League final and what he believed was a huge mistake he made for the contest.
The ex-Molde and Cardiff City boss revealed that he had made his triumphant return to football in a new role, along with turning down two recent offers for managerial positions.
Additionally, Solskjaer has singled out one current United star who he believes that fans “haven’t seen the best of” and explained why that is the case.
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