Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has opened up on how Sir Alex Ferguson would speak to him and how it is “completely different” now.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer enjoyed a remarkable playing career at Old Trafford and became a cult figure among Manchester United supporters.
The 50-year-old Norwegian was widely admired for his ‘super sub’ status at the Premier League club and Solskjaer’s incredible impact coming off the bench.
Solskjaer often had to fight for his place in the starting XI under Sir Alex Ferguson, although the former United star was an important first-team player at the club.
The United legend is deeply tied to the iconic treble win in 1999, with Solskjaer scoring the injury-time winner against Bayern Munich in the Champions League final.
Solskjaer later returned to Old Trafford after his playing career and was initially caretaker manager at United after Jose Mourinho was axed from the club in 2018.
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Solskjaer talks Man Utd and Ferguson
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was later appointed Jose Mourinho’s permanent successor at Manchester United and did enjoy some success in the Old Trafford dugout.
The former United star led the Red Devils to a second-place finish in the 2020-21 campaign, as well as reaching the final of the Europa League against Villarreal.
However, Solskjaer’s run came to an end in 2021 after a poor run of results turned the tide against him, with the ex-Norway international sacked from his role.
Solskjaer has refused to rule out a return to management and the United legend has opened up about his time at the club, including one player’s professional attitude.
The former United and Molde boss has revealed what it was like playing under Sir Alex Ferguson and how the Scotsman would contact him if he needed him.
Solskjaer highlighted that the different ways Ferguson would speak to him would be alien in today’s world, with the United legend pointing to the changes that have since happened.
“It’s completely different, the way you talk to them… everyone has PR agencies and all these,” he said (via ESPN).
“Back in the day, if Sir Alex Ferguson wanted to speak to me, he rang my phone and he spoke to me or we spoke on the training ground.
“Now, we have to go through different agents and management which I find strange, because football is a game played by people, managed by people, and you need to be able to speak together, to connect, to get the best out of each other… and to trust each other.”
Solskjaer on football and his philosophy
Solskjaer suggested that football is “more prescribed” now and believes that the onus to make decisions on the pitch should come from the “creative player” who is playing.
“Football is now more prescribed… many more coaches tell players exactly what to do from academy age, which sometimes is a bit… dangerous, you know?” he explained.
“Because I always believe when you are out there on the pitch, you as a creative player have to make a decision.
“Yeah, we have a framework to work from and we all look for these things, but… the decision-making on the pitch is what would make the difference.
“If you have players who are not capable of seeing different things, you coach them and say this is what you do: you win the ball, you give it to (for example) Bruno [Fernandes], he will create…”
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