Manchester United: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reveals what he has learned from disappointing season

Solskjaer believes that, after a difficult run of results, he now knows who he can build his team around

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has learned who he can build his team around after a chastening end to his first months in charge of Manchester United.

United failed to qualify for the Champions League for the third time in six seasons following a disappointing and tumultuous campaign.

Solskjaer turned the club’s fortunes around when named as Jose Mourinho’s successor on a temporary basis in December, winning 14 of his first 17 games.

Yet a run of eight defeats in 12, largely coinciding with Solskjaer’s permanent appointment, has dampened any sense of optimism around the club.

United ended the season with two dreadful results: a draw against relegated Huddersfield Town to end all hopes of Champions League qualification and a home defeat to doomed Cardiff City on the final day.

When asked by the club’s official website what he had learned from his first five months in charge, Solskjaer said: “I’ve learned that I don’t like losing. I like winning.

“We started off fantastically. The boys were unbelievable when I came in. We were positive. We won games. The whole group gelled together and I enjoyed winning but I know that football is hard.

“You can’t just expect everything to go that way and the reality hit us. We are in a league with loads of very good teams and, to be at our top [level], we need to be 100 per cent focused.

“We came into some games really, really focused with the full team and I thought that was fantastic.

“Then you learn a lot when you go through tough times and think about who can we build this team around, and who we think is going to take the next step because we need to go to the next level.”

Solskjaer has also confirmed that several key members of his coaching staff will remain at the club for the forthcoming 2019-20 season.

Michael Carrick, Kieran McKenna and Mark Dempsey will all remain in place as part of Solskjaer’s coaching staff following Mike Phelan’s appointment as assistant manager on a permanent basis.

“They are all going to stay,” Solskjaer said. “I think that’s important, that we keep that team going forward. We do bounce off his each other and they are some excellent coaches.”