Former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has shared a revealing and amusing anecdote from his time in the Old Trafford dugout, involving a memorable exchange with esteemed Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti.
The Amusing Touchline Exchange
Recalling the incident in a candid interview with BBC Sport, Solskjaer set the scene during a match against Everton. I was stood there in my technical area, Solskjaer began. Carlo Ancelotti comes across so he's more or less in my technical area.
The situation was promptly addressed by the fourth official, who quipped to Ancelotti, 'Carlo you need to get back into your technical area unless you want Ole's job?' To this, the Italian manager swiftly replied, 'no, no, no, too much pressure. That job is too much pressure'.
Reflecting on the Manchester United Tenure
Solskjaer, now 52, managed Manchester United for just under three years, a period that followed his legendary 11-year stint as a player for the club. During his 168 matches in charge, he secured 91 victories and guided the team to a third and second place finish in his two full Premier League seasons.
Despite this relative success in the challenging post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, his reign concluded without a trophy. The club dismissed him in November 2021 with United sitting seventh in the table after a difficult six-week run of form.
Pressure as a Privilege at Old Trafford
Solskjaer used the story with Ancelotti to illustrate the intense scrutiny that comes with managing a global giant like Manchester United. He embraced this reality, stating, 'You know pressure is a privilege, he's always said that as well, and I felt privileged to be the manager of Man United.'
He acknowledged the immense responsibility, noting, 'But of course, you're the face of everyone and everything surrounding Man United.' The Norwegian appeared to have no major regrets about his time, even conceding that his dismissal was justified, citing that a very bad six-week spell is too long at a club like Man United.
When questioned on whether he receives enough credit for his work, especially given United's struggles since his departure, Solskjaer remained humble. He pointed to the fierce competition, highlighting that he was up against Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool and Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, who he described as the two best teams in the world at the time.
'It was the worst time to be Man United manager,' he reflected. 'But we got second and third. So, with the staff, we had something going but we couldn't take the next step.'
