Man Utd boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer unable to hide longing for permanent job

For the briefest of moments, the mask slipped. Even then, it was done with a smile.

But Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reaction to the latest round of questions regarding his Manchester United future betrayed his true feelings about the most pivotal period of his interim reign.

Games against Paris Saint Germain in the Champions League, Chelsea in the FA Cup and the visit of title-chasing Liverpool could effectively secure his position at Old Trafford.

While 10 wins from 11 have placed him alongside Mauricio Pochettino as the leading candidate to be named Jose Mourinho’s permanent successor – the manner in which he navigates this run could make it near-impossible to show him the door.

Solskjaer has 10 wins from 11 games.
AFP/Getty Images

Solskjaer knows the significance of the next few weeks and that was evident ahead of tonight’s round of 16 first leg tie at home to PSG.

In front of the bright lights of television cameras, in a room packed full of the world’s media inside Old Trafford, the Norwegian was asked if it was too simple to categorise these games as defining.

“You need to change the script now,” he said. “You have so many ways of asking that question. That is too simple.

“There are still a few months left of this season for me to do whatever I can for the club.

“Of course we are going to play against some top teams, but now is just to focus on this one. It has always been like that.”

Solskjaer’s transformation of a squad that was on its knees when he walked in before Christmas has been remarkable.

He has led United into the top four for the first time this season, with a bigger points haul – 25 from nine league games - than any other team in the top flight during his eight-week tenure.

Appointed on a strictly interim basis, he was not even supposed to be part of the conversation as Ed Woodward began a thorough and extensive process to find his next manager.

But it is now impossible to dismiss his credentials, with growing support at all levels of the club to hand him the job at the end of the season.

Increasingly, it is becoming his to lose, which is why there will be such scrutiny on the games against PSG and Liverpool, with an FA Cup fifth round tie with Chelsea sandwiched in-between.

Anthony Martial, who Solskjaer helped to convince to sign a new five-year contract this month, underlined the support from within the dressing room for the 1999 Treble-winning hero.

Martial thriving under the Norwegian again.
Man Utd via Getty Images

“We have got a coach who has different intentions and we are trying to do what we asks,” said the France forward. “Perhaps it is easier for us to play this style of football than the one of the last coach.

“When our new coach came in he had a lot of confidence, a lot of determination, that was really helpful. We are trying to pay him back in kind and things are working out well at the moment.

“We are really happy to have him here and we hope we can continue.”

The final decision rests with Glazer family – and the sight of co-chairman Avram at two games in as many months – is an endorsement of Solskjaer’s effect on the club.

Brought in to put smiles on faces, he has done so much more. And while he has been sticking to the party line that he will return to Molde at the end of the season, he is already planning for United’s long-term future - consulting executive vice chairman Woodward on transfer policy.

Marouane Fellaini, for example, was clearly an ill-fit for the fast, counter attacking football he has implemented, and was promptly sold to Chinese Super League club Shandong Luneng.

Doubts will also hang over the futures of Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez after Solskjaer’s decision to build his forward line around the quick and mobile trio of Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard and Martial.

Those three are expected to start against PSG in a game United fans now head into with anticipation, rather than fear.

It is all a far cry from December 17 when, 24 hours after losing at Anfield, United were drawn against the French champions.

In Pictures | Fulham vs Man Utd | 09/02/2019

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Solskjaer watched the draw live on TV with his son Noah in Norway.

A day later Mourinho was sacked and he was fielding an SOS call from Woodward.

“When Man United ring you and ask you to help, you take a chance and you think you are going to help them,” he said. “I believe in the way I do things.

“Of course I didn’t know (what was going to happen). I was watching with Noah and we said ‘wow that is a tough challenge.’

“But we have given ourselves the best possible opportunity in the way we have gone into this game because we’re confident. If there was any time to go into big games like this, it is now.

“I have loved every single minute of it here. We knew we had a big challenge in front of us because we were far behind in the league. Confidence was low after the defeat to Liverpool, but they have responded fantastically.

“The squad is very capable of winning against any opponents. We have to look to PSG and make sure we go through this one and then take the next challenge as it comes.

“If we keep working every day, we can improve and maybe surprise a few.”

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