Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hits back at sack speculation

Solskjaer came out fighting after consecutive defeats for United

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Manchester United via Getty Images)

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists that he is still the right man to bring success to Manchester United and that he can cope with the pressure of managing the club.

Solskjaer's future has come under increased scrutiny this week after back-to-back defeats against Arsenal and Istanbul Basaksehir.

The Norwegian retains the backing of the United hierarchy but another disappointing result in Saturday's lunchtime kick-off against Everton would see the pressure only intensify.

Solskjaer insisted after a 4-0 defeat at Goodison Park two seasons ago that he would bring success to United and reiterated that point on Friday.

"Why shouldn't I be? If I'm not, if I don't trust my beliefs, who else should? I don't look at one or two results and fall like a house of cards.

"Yes, it's a setback, definitely," he said of the two consecutive defeats.  

"There's been too much made of not scoring ahainst Arsenal and Chelsea and it's not long ago that we were the best thing since sliced bread when we beat Leipzig and PSG. You've got to have belief in yourself and the players."

Solskjaer insisted that he has the support of executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and other key decision-makers at Old Trafford.

"I've always had a very good, open and honest and positive dialogue with the club. They've shown strong leadership since I come in and with me today it's sunny in Manchester. I don't expect the wind to turn. 

"There’s always pressure and expectations on us. I became a man at Manchester United and have learnt how to deal with good and bad times.

“You're a top coach or manager when you win and bad when you lose because that's the last game you played. Every game of football becomes history quickly and we need to go into Goodison Park in a positive frame of mind.”

Solskjaer added that the pressure was not taking a personal toll. "You have to be mentally strong," he said. "There are demands on any Manchester United player, coach and manager and also an expectation.  

"We are at the best and biggest club in the world and you don't expect anything but criticism then, it's how you deal with that setback and from what I've seen from the boys they've been very focused."