Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hits back at the media as Man United seal Champions League spot

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was quick to strike back at his critics after restoring Manchester United to Champions League football. 

Victory over Leicester on Sunday ensured United confirmed a top four spot on the final day, edging out Chelsea to finish third. 

There were doubts over Solskjaer’s credentials in some quarters before the 2019-20 season began and many pre-season predictions had United missing out on the Champions League once again.  

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (right) guided Manchester United back into the Champions League

Jesse Lingard (right) was on target as United beat Leicester 2-0 on the final round of matches

But after a 2-0 win at Leicester capped off a fine season for United, Solskjaer could not resist a jab back at those who doubted him. 

‘It didn’t seem like you [the media] were expecting this – all the predictions were sixth or seventh,’ Solskjaer said after the win. 

‘That’s all right. If I’m getting criticised that makes me stronger and makes me believe more in what I’m doing. Please don’t praise me too much because you can become complacent. That’s just the way I’m made.’

Solskjaer revealed he read all of the pre-season predictions that doubted him and his players

Just three of Sportsmail’s experts had tipped United to finish inside the top four and as many cast doubt on whether Solskjaer has the necessary tools, the Norwegian revealed he read all the words of the doubters to fuel him.  

Sportsmail columnists Jamie Redknapp, Martin Keown, Chris Sutton and Peter Crouch all had United missing out.

Solskjaer oversaw the club’s worst ever start to a Premier League campaign but turned it around, fuelled by the dissenting voices that he would not get them into the top four. 

United got nine points from their first seven games which was their worst return since the 1989-90 season, only increasing the question marks around the manager and the squad at his disposal.  

‘I was reading through them [the predictions] and some of the staff were discussing them,’ he added. 

United have excelled since the restart and successfully edged out Chelsea to finish in third

‘To finish third with this team and this squad, and where we have been with this rebuild, has been a massive achievement by everyone. We’ve come so far as a team, we’re building a culture.’  

United are also still in with contention of silverware with the attention of Solskjaer and his players turning to the Europa League. 

They beat LASK 5-0 away before coronavirus shut down the season and while the second leg is a mere formality at Old Trafford, United know they are three one-off games away from a trophy lift.

Due to measures in place following the Covid-19 pandemic, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the Europa League final will be played as a knockout tournament across four cities in Germany.

Starting on August 5, games will take place in Cologne, Duisburg, Dusseldorf and Gelsenkirchen and all of those ties will be single-leg fixtures.