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Solskjaer hit backs at Pochettino for trophy claims

Sudarshan Venkatesan
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Solskjaer hits back Pochettino

Solskjaer hits back at Pochettino for trophy claims.

Since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over Manchester United in mid-December, the club have been in supreme form with eight wins out of eight including the victories over Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.

Mauricio Pochettino, who has been tipped to become the next Manchester United manager suffered yet another setback when they faced an early exit from the League Cup and were knocked out by Chelsea in the League Semi-finals within a span of four days. Even though they have a chance of winning the league mathematically, it will take some doing to stop both Liverpool and Manchester City as they seem to be flying.

When the media decided to ask about the prospect of going into another trophyless season, the Argentine responded by saying that trophies will only build egos within the team.

“Again we’re going to have the debate whether a trophy will take the club to the next level. I don’t agree with it. It only builds your ego. The most important thing for Tottenham right now is to always be in the top four.”

“It’s true, this season has been tough. I told you it would be a massive challenge for us, but we believe it’ll be a tough season but no tougher than it’s been. Of course, disappointed because, after Thursday and today again, out of two competitions. You feel disappointed. You can’t feel anything different.” said Pochettino.

The Manchester United interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was able to lift six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, Champions League and the Club World Cup in a joy-filled playing career with the Red Devils. On the other hand, Mauricio Pochettino is yet to win a trophy as a manager despite managing Tottenham more than four years.

The Manchester United disagreed that the top four should be the only priority and reiterated that the club will go all out for the Champions League and the FA Cup to land a silverware despite a dismal start to the campaign by getting knocked out by Derby County in the League Cup under Jose Mourinho.

Solskjaer spoke to the media “That’s not the dream though – to be top four. We’re Man United, you should always aim to win the league. We can’t do that this year but we’ve just got to look forward to that again because we have to get back to that.”

“We’ve got the Champions League, we’ve got the FA Cup, we can’t just say top four and that’s it. We’ve got to look at, ‘Can we win something this year?’ And as I’ve said, I go into every single game as a Man United manager thinking we can win this game.

“If you win trophies that’s a fantastic day for everyone in the club, it’s just the best time of your life, that day when you win. Because you never know when the next one is going to come.

“The manager (Sir Alex Ferguson) always said, ‘Enjoy this. Whatever trophy you win, you have just got to enjoy it’. But, then again, it’s not up to me to discuss whatever anyone else says, I am just saying that we here at this club, we are looking to win trophies.

“I am not here to discuss what Pochettino says and what other managers say. First of all, it’s the next game, but we are about winning trophies, of course we are. And we can’t win the league this year. We are still in the cup, we are going to try to win the FA Cup, of course. I think every manager wants to win every game so I don’t think that is the point [Pochettino] was making.

“Just being here is a great achievement, being asked to be here. But of course the more you win, the more you feel good. The feel-good factor is getting better. We’ve done well but it’s not about getting excited.

“Still a long way to go, so we just need to focus on the next game. I know it’s boring to hear this, but it’s about improving, it’s about getting better. It’s great that we’ve picked up eight points.” said Solskjaer.

The return of the Premier League action will see the Red Devils take on Burnley at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

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