Net worth of Solskjaer

how United's Norwegian star can earn place in history

Alex Ferguson believes he has discovered the missing link. The manager who created a breed of Manchester United players superior to any other in England, has so far been unable to help them evolve into the European master team he and the club's supporters so crave.

But after watching an unhealthy amount of television - no wonder he needs glasses - and a quick chat with Bobby Charlton, he has come up with the answer. His name is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. United lost five games 1-0 in last season's European Cup, including both legs of the semi-final against Borussia Dortmund and the two group games against this Wednesday's visitors Juventus. The Turkish side Fenerbahce started the run when they inflicted United's first ever home defeat in Europe.

The sole difference, says Ferguson, in all of those games was not one of class, but simply his forwards' inability to score from the chances they created. The Norwegian Solskjaer, he insists, can put that right. "The gap between English and Italian teams has been greatly exaggerated," Ferguson said. "It is a popular theory put about to discredit our game, but you cannot escape the statistics.

"If we create 15 chances in a European semi-final, as we did against Dortmund, then it tells me that there is not a lot missing there. But we have to hold our hands up over the chances we missed. Even this season we have not been killing games off. Dortmund had seven shots on target in the two games against us and the final and scored five goals. That's amazing.

"This is a good Manchester United team but we have been letting ourselves down with our lack of goals. I could be saying the same thing next Thursday morning but we are determined to sort it out. My players don't like it and it is something they can solve. I am happy to talk about it [unlike his side's perceived disciplinary problems] because I know we can handle this. You have to make sure you blast it, hit the target and hit it hard. I asked Bobby Charlton if he aimed for the corners. He said: `No, I just hit them'."

Ferguson has been unable to field a settled strike partnership this season due to injuries. The return to full fitness of Solskjaer, with Teddy Sheringham not far behind, should change that.

A pre-season ankle ligament problem, sustained in a friendly against Internazionale, has limited the Norwegian international to just two substitute appearances before this weekend. But in midweek he showed in 20 minutes of action against Chelsea why he is so aptly nicknamed the "Baby-faced assassin" with a goal of stunning precision from a difficult bouncing ball.

Brian McClair is the only United player to breach 20 League goals for a season since George Best. Solskjaer got 18 in the Premiership last season and Ferguson believes he will not only join Best in the charts but could also soon share his status as a European Cup winner.

"The manner in which he scored that goal against Chelsea tells you what he is capable of. If all of our chances fall to him on Wednesday, I will be happy. He is well capable of scoring over 20 goals even though he has already missed seven games."

Ferguson admitted that some of his players were daunted by Juventus when they lost to the Italians last season, but insists that they have learnt from those games. "We salvaged a lot from our second-half display against them at Old Trafford last season. We were reasonable, without pulling up any trees, but that will serve us well for this week. [The Juventus manager] Marcello Lippi will have set his stall out for the European Cup and we need a good performance, but we are starting to get to grips with this competition."

Last week was a difficult one for Ferguson. He does not enjoy talking about fights in tunnels and refereeing decisions. He is hoping this week's events will make it easier for him to talk about the things he loves - goals.