MANCHESTER: Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has promised there will be no complacency from him or the players now he has been confirmed as the Premier League club’s permanent manager.
Solskjaer was handed the job on Thursday after a successful three months as caretaker boss, but he said there would no easing off now he has a three-year contract — setting the Premier League title as his goal.
“Players who get complacent, they never last at this club anyway,” Solskjaer said.
“I am the same, I can’t be complacent and now rest on (the fact that) I have the job, It’s not me. We are looking forward, we have got to work harder,” he added.
In keeping with that approach, Solskjaer side-stepped a question about his pride at his appointment.
“Now the hard work starts, the enjoyable work but hard work, it is not a moment to be proud in that respect,” he said.
“I have got some targets, I want a Manchester United team that is one of the hardest-working teams in the league, one of the fittest teams in the league and that then will bring results. I think the players know my expectations on the future,” he added.
The 46-year-old Norwegian has guided United to 14 wins in 19 matches in all competitions as caretaker boss since replacing the sacked Jose Mourinho in December.
His short-term target is to secure a top-four finish and qualification for the Champions League but Solskjaer said that winning the Premier League was his goal.
“To lift the Premier League trophy again is what we expect, what we’re used to, what we have done so many times,” he said.
“We can’t wait too many years but it’s not going to happen overnight.”
In the longer term he said he wanted to continue the positive mood around the club.
“The day I walk out of the doors, I hope it is with a smile on my face and have given the supporters, the staff, the players, the club, a good time and that is all I can do, all I can promise, all I’ve promised to the owners, to (CEO) Ed (Woodward), everyone,” he said.
“I will always be myself, I am not going to change, I will be an optimist and positive guy and we will do this together.”
The Norwegian’s back-room staff is expected to stay as it is with his assistant Mike Phelan, brought back to the club with Solskjaer in December, now in contract talks.
“Mick is a key part of the set-up and they are talking to each other,” said Solskjaer.
“The set-up we have now I really hope is going to continue.”
United host Watford at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Saturday.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says complacency won’t set in at Old Trafford now he is permanent boss
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says complacency won’t set in at Old Trafford now he is permanent boss
Gilgeous-Alexander leads Thunder in rout of Cavaliers
- Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Gilgeous-Alexander’s 30-point haul led the way, with center Chet Holmgren providing offensive support with 28 points and Luguentz Dort adding 18 points
Los Angeles: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder returned to winning ways with a 136-104 pummeling of the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday.
Two days after suffering an upset defeat by Miami on Saturday, the NBA champions ensured there would be no repeat against Cleveland as the league marked the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday with a packed slate of fixtures.
Apart from a brief spell at the start of the first quarter, Oklahoma City led throughout, building up a double-digit lead before accelerating away with a 45-point fourth quarter.
Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Gilgeous-Alexander’s 30-point haul led the way, with center Chet Holmgren providing offensive support with 28 points and Luguentz Dort adding 18 points.
Isaiah Joe chipped in with 16 points from the bench while Aaron Wiggins finished with 12 as five Thunder players recorded double figures en route to a victory that sees Oklahoma City improve to 36-8 at the top of the Western Conference.
Donovan Mitchell led Cleveland with 19 points while four Cavs players — Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, Jaylon Tyson and De’Andre Hunter — all finished with 16 points apiece.
In Monday’s other early game, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 21 points helped the Milwaukee Bucks hold off a late rally in a 112-110 road win over the Atlanta Hawks.
Milwaukee opened a 23-point lead midway through the third quarter but a stubborn Atlanta line-up chipped away at that advantage and grabbed a slender one-point lead with just over a minute remaining before the Bucks reasserted themselves to dig out victory.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker led Atlanta’s scoring with 32 points off the bench including seven three-pointers, with Jalen Johnson finishing with 28 points for the home side.
