Sir Alex Ferguson ‘snapped big time’ at Man Utd legend after misunderstanding as icon admits ‘you could never read him’
SIR ALEX FERGUSON is well known for his hairdryer treatment of stars.
And that furious temper extended to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who explained how a misunderstanding led to a big row between them.
Recalling the incident in an interview for Bring on United, the super sub explained how an interview he did in the Norwegian press was misinterpreted by an English newspaper.
He said: “In December 2000, I was in form and scored in four different league games.
“Then we played Newcastle away in the final game of the year. It was one I didn’t score in. We got a penalty and I should have taken it. Becks took it and put it in the top right corner.
“I was thinking that I might be player of the month.
“I did an interview with the Norwegian press that was translated into some of the British newspapers and spun into headlines that were way worse than what I’d said.
“The question to me was: ‘Now that you are a regular…’ and I answered, ‘No, not really, I’ll probably be on the bench soon and I don’t look at myself as a regular.’
“The gaffer came to see me and he snapped big time because it was on the back of all the newspapers that I’d said he’d probably leave me out soon. I think he only read the headlines.”
Ferguson was not best impressed with Solskjaer’s attitude, leading to the row.
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Although Solskjaer credits the Scot for setting the standards even in that situation.
“He then looked at me as a defeatist who accepted being a sub instead of pushing on and saying that I should play every game.
“But, for me, it was a way of saying that I’m loyal to whatever the gaffer does and doing whatever I’m asked to. One of the beauties of the manager was that you could never read him.”
Solskjaer spent 11 years at Old Trafford as a player.
He then returned as a manager initially on an interim basis before being given the job full-time.
The 51-year-old failed to win a trophy but secured back-to-back top-four finishes, something no other manager has done for United since Ferguson.
He was sacked in November 2021 and replaced by Ralf Rangnick on an interim basis.
Erik ten Hag then took over on a permanent basis, leading the club to the FA Cup and League Cup.
But a poor start in the league this season saw club chiefs pull the plug on his time and replace him with Ruben Amorim.
The former Sporting Lisbon boss takes charge of his first game for the Red Devils against Ipswich tomorrow.