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Solskjaer invites Sir Alex Ferguson to training complex

Sudarshan Venkatesan
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer invites Sir Alex Ferguson

Former Manchester United boss will be part of the training on Saturday.

Sir Alex Ferguson will step into the training complex for the first time since May. He suffered a life-threatening issue during that month, but following the surgery for a brain haemorrhage, he was able to recover quickly.

According to Daily Mail, Solskjaer and his representative have invited the Scottishman to the Carrington training complex on Saturday as the Red Devils prepare to take on Bournemouth at Old Trafford the next day.

It is also understood that Sir Alex Ferguson played a major part in appointing Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Mike Phelan as the manager and first-team coach respectively.

Having played under the management of Ferguson and eleven years, and staying as a manager for the youth team, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the first name that popped up in the head of the former Manchester United boss when the Red Devils were in search for the replacement of Jose Mourinho.

On the other hand, Mike Phelan has been part of the Manchester United’s staff since 1999, including his tenure as an assistant manager to Sir Alex Ferguson between 2008 and 2013.

Since Solskjaer took over the club, there have been plenty of talks about his setup. But, he has answered his critics wrong and has won two games on a bounce, scoring eight goals in the process.

Aftermath the arrival of Solskjaer, there have been various reports quoting that Sir Alex Ferguson will be back in the training ground to guide the Norwegian and act as a consultant.

Solskajer described Ferguson as his “mentor” and said he wants his side to play with the same attacking qualities laid down by the legendary former boss.

“It’s about getting very player to the best, speaking to them, the training ground, philosophy, principles, how we want to play,”

“It doesn’t matter what team you’re coaching, they all want to have a picture of how you want to play, they’re all quality players, so it will be easier to get players expressing themselves.

“You play with courage, go out there and express your skills. Sir Alex said ‘go out and express yourselves and take risks’.

“The last game he had as a manager, 5-5 [at West Brom], that was almost the perfect end for him as a manager, and I want the players to be similar, be the kids that love to play football and go out in front of the best fans in the world.

“Sir Alex influenced me with everything, to be fair, the way he’s dealt with people, the way he was manager of the club, how he kept 25 international players happy and hungry wanting to improve, but also the staff in and around the place.

“He’s been my mentor, but I didn’t understand early on he’d be my mentor. Towards the end, maybe the injury in 2003, I was making all the notes about what he did in certain situations and I’ve already been in touch with him – there’s no one to get better advice from.

“I’ve been here as a player, 11 years as a player, a coach for three-and-a-half years, the best part 15 years of my life.

“It’s a third of my life. I’m getting old, but that’s life, that was the same when I signed as a player, Nicky Butt the first lad I meet, says hi to me, you’re excited but it feels like home.”

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