Carling Cup is 'history' for United

Ferguson has his eyes on two more trophies now, says reserve team coach Solskjaer

United collected their first silverware of the campaign at Wembley on Sunday, but are now focused on Premier League and European success (GETTY IMAGES)

Manchester United's Carling Cup triumph is already "history" in the eyes of Sir Alex Ferguson, according to his former striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

United collected their first silverware of the campaign at Wembley on Sunday as Wayne Rooney's header sealed a 2-1 win over Aston Villa. It is the 32nd trophy of Ferguson's United reign, but Solskjaer believes the manager will have already put it behind him in order to focus on the other prizes still up for grabs this season. "For every trophy that he gets, he just says to himself that he wants another one," said Solskjaer, who spent 11 years as a player at Old Trafford after being signed by Ferguson in 1996.

"I think that is what drives him on. Some players or managers say 'I am happy now I have won something, now I can rest happily', but the manager just wants another one, and another one. The Carling Cup is history now and we have two more trophies to fight for."

Currently second in the Premier League and holding a 3-2 advantage over Milan after the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie, United could still be on for a treble this season.

Ferguson's hunger for trophies has shown no signs of abating and it is something he continues to demand from the staff and players around him.

Asked if he found the manager's desire rubbing off on him, Solskjaer – now the reserve-team coach at United – said: "Of course it does, because you see how successful he has been, how he goes about his business and you know that is the recipe for success. He wants people around him that are just as hungry as him and want to make United the best team in the world, and that is what we are striving for every day."

One player who has certainly looked ready to conquer all just recently is Rooney, who scored his 28th goal of the season against Villa – and the fifth in a row with his head.

That sequence has demonstrated yet another facet to the England forward's game and Solskjaer believes his former team-mate has long had the makings of a complete player.

"He has always been an all-round player for me – he can attack, he can defend, he can pass it, run with it, dribble," Solskjaer said. "He is a manager's dream and he is hungry to win. If you put him out there one against one or 11 against 11, it doesn't matter what it is, he wants to win it. He even wants to go in goal! He just wants to win and he loves football. That is what is so great about it – there is no hidden agenda."

United are a point away from league leaders Chelsea and take them on in what looks set to be a title showdown at Old Trafford on 3 April.

Any mistake in the run-in could prove fatal though, and Solskjaer stressed there will be no room for error between now and the end of the season. "That [the Chelsea game] is three points, but every game is three points," he said. "We can put a good run together but we can't afford any more slip-ups if we are going to realistically challenge for the title. The players know that, the manager knows that and we are geared up for the last 10 weeks."

Solskjaer was talking at the launch of "Something to Chew On", a healthy eating campaign for schools.