HEIR DRYER
Solskjaer not smiling any more as Man Utd boss’ composure cracks in Fergie-style blast
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THIS time Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was not smiling. Anything but.
In fact he was seething, shaking almost, in fury.
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For someone who has been happy to tell the world that he models his methods on Sir Alex Ferguson, one thing that had rarely been seen since he became Manchester United boss last season was the hairdryer.
But here it was, full blast, aimed straight at Robin van Persie, with Mino Raiola taking a hit, too.
Fergie Lite it was not.
As he stalked out of the Jimmy Murphy Centre where he had just conducted his media briefing, he declared: “I’m not in medieval times!”
That was a throwaway line after he had gone for Van Persie’s throat.
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It was certainly as Gothic as it could ever get from Solskjaer, his calm, composed, almost gentle demeanour consumed by anger.
Former Old Trafford striker RVP had claimed the Norwegian should not have been smiling in defeat in front of the cameras after the 2-0 New Year’s Day loss to Arsenal.
It was one attack too many on him from a TV talking head as his patience snapped over the whole Paul Pogba affair, Raiola’s insulting rant at the club he loves and another suggestion that he is too soft for the job.
In truth, Solskjaer had tried hard not to lose it in what he had hoped would merely be the usual Q&A session before tonight’s FA Cup third-round clash at Wolves.
But he groaned “here we go again”, as the questions rained down on him about Pogba.
He did his best to clear up the belief that, somehow, United were not in command of the situation surrounding the Frenchman.
It needed clearing up, too, for his explanation over why the World Cup winner was missing at the Emirates on Wednesday — over planned new surgery — had sounded like the tail was wagging the dog.
The expression Solskjaer used regarding Pogba’s latest absence was that “his people” had made the decision to put him under the knife, having already missed nearly three months with ankle and foot injuries.
Robin van Persie criticises Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for smiling and being too nice
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So, patience still intact, he said: “FA Cup third round and you’re talking about Paul again.
“Paul came back after a long spell out, two games, had a reaction, couldn’t go to Burnley, felt his ankle was sore, we did a scan.
“And it’s not the same injury, it’s a different injury.
“Of course, when you get that scan, we speak to him, you consult your own medical people as well, like I did when I had my operation.
“You want the best second opinion and the advice was to have it done.
“By ‘his people’ I mean when you consult your surgeon and the ones you trust — maybe that’s my bad English.
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“You have people you trust and speak to. When I had my injuries, loads of knee operations, I had my people in Norway and Sweden.
“Paul has people he trusts and that’s more important.
“So that’s more or less it. And the FA Cup is the next talking subject, all right?
“That’s as clear as it can be at this point. It’s an ankle injury, some bone fragments. It will keep him out for three to four weeks.
“He had a scan and we found something and then we spoke together.
“It wouldn’t be fair to risk any player’s health.
“You wouldn’t and if the player is not happy with what he’s feeling, he’s got loads of pain, then it might be a worry that it can get worse. That is the decision.”
There was patience, still, as he fielded questions on Raiola’s damning condemnation of United.
After fingers had been pointed at Raiola from within the club over the breakdown of the deal to sign Norway ace Erling Haaland, the agent declared United would have “ruined” the careers of Pele or Maradona.
He also said he would never take a player to the club again, with Pogba wanting out of there — the hint from Raiola being it was he and not the club controlling the player.
Solskjaer responded in firm, measured fashion, providing a straight “No” on whether agents should speak about clubs.
Yet as calm and controlled as he had been until that point, the reminder of Van Persie’s attack on him triggered the kind of vitriol that might have come straight from His Master’s Voice.
Asked for a response to the Dutchman’s doubts, that earlier patience now gone, he snapped: “I don’t know Robin and Robin doesn’t know me.
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“He probably doesn’t have a right to criticise my management style and I won’t change. That’s definite.
“Yeah, he took my No 20 shirt — but that’s probably all he’s going to take from me as well.”
The Baby–Faced Assassin had returned.
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