MX23RW : Tuesday, April 30 03:16:32| >> :120:15242:15242:

Solskjaer wants current United squad to replicate treble-winners

Solskjaer wants current United squad to replicate treble-winners
© Reuters
Manchester United won the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup under Sir Alex Ferguson in 1999.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hopes to replicate the spirit of Manchester United's treble-winning season to lift the club back to the top.

Solskjaer famously scored the injury-time winner in the Champions League final when Sir Alex Ferguson's United side scooped three trophies in 1999.

Now the Red Devils manager, the Norwegian intends to build the side around the principles that worked so well 20 years ago.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer won 12 trophies as a player with Manchester United (Owen Humphreys/PA)

Solskjaer told ESPN FC: "We challenged each other every day in training. There were fights and there was an inner justice that I've not seen in too many teams.

"We never, ever accepted anyone being below par in training. We kicked each other and we had to win every single day. That moved over into games and we never gave in. There was an unbelievable team spirit.

"I want my players to really push each other and demand 100 per cent attitude from each other every single day. That's the only way you can improve and it's the only way you can win.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer last-gasp winner helped Manchester United win the 1999 Champions League final
Solskjaer's last-gasp winner helped Manchester United win the 1999 Champions League final (Owen Humphreys/PA)

"We had something special. It's a different group now and the challenge is, 'How can I make these players winners as we were?'"

United are currently sixth in the Premier League but are just three points behind third-placed Tottenham and are still in contention in the Champions League.

They face LaLiga leaders Barcelona in the first leg of their quarter-final at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

United are not the favourites for the tie but Solskjaer, who oversaw an impressive comeback victory over Paris St Germain in the last round, is confident.

Solskjaer said: "We're playing against a good team but there is something special about this group of players. It will be fantastic."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Andy Hampson, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '95a60c78-43ab-4a45-902e-15b49874c3ab');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk,paservice:sport:world');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Solskjaer keen to replicate \u2018unbelievable team spirit\u2019 of treble-winning squad'});

ID:355677: cacheID:355677:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7335:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
England midfielder Declan Rice pictured against Montenegro on March 25, 2019
Read Next:
United 'preparing big-money Rice offer'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal35255585285780
2Manchester CityMan City34247382325079
3Liverpool35229477364175
4Aston Villa35207873522167
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs33186967521560
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd34166125251154
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle341651374551953
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham351310125665-949
9Chelsea33139116359448
10Bournemouth35139135260-848
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves35137154855-746
12Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton341111125257-544
13Fulham35127165155-443
14Crystal Palace351010154557-1240
15Everton35128153748-1136
16Brentford3598185260-835
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3579194262-2026
18Luton TownLuton3567224877-2925
19Burnley3559213870-3224
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd3537253497-6316


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!