Ole Gunnar Solskjaer planning for long term at Man United even if he doesn’t get the job full-time 

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer revealed Manchester United have a clear vision of how they want to look in a bid to regain a spot at the Premier League‘s top table.

The caretaker boss saw Phil Jones sign a new four-year contract on Friday morning, adding to Luke Shaw and Anthony Martial‘s recent deals.

Solskjaer claimed tying players down is a signal of intent and the 44-year-old has told Ed Woodward how he believes the club should plan for the future.

Manchester United interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been planning for the long term even if he doesn’t get the job on a permanent basis

Solskjaer has won nine of his 10 matches in charge during his time in temporary charge

Defender Phil Jones signed a new four-year contract with the Old Trafford club on Friday

‘Every day I feel that I do help the club and put my stamp on it,’ Solskjaer said. ‘But decisions sometimes on the future of players are not down to me.

‘It’s the players, do they want to stay or move on but we have a vision and picture of how we want to look in a few years.

‘We have to think long term and also short term and I’ve got a picture of what this Manchester United team should look in a couple of years. I put my views to Ed and the club.

‘I’ve supported and followed United for many years and I did have a clear view on what I thought my opinion would be. You get a different view on players but we’re not too far away from when I came.’

Solskjaer’s backroom team of Mark Dempsey, Mike Phelan, Kieran McKenna and Michael Carrick has drawn praise during the Norwegian’s stunning start. McKenna and Carrick came in for special praise ahead of Saturday’s trip to Fulham.

Coach Michael Carrick pictured with Solskjaer on the touchline at Leicester last weekend

Solskjaer and assistant Mike Phelan issue instructions during the recent draw with Burnley

United are fifth in the Premier League but are within striking distance of the top four

‘We are different ages, we are different in what we’re good at,’ Solskjaer added. ‘We complement each other really well.

‘Kieran and Michael, the energy and hours they spend planning the sessions, working with individuals, Demps has come in later on but he’s fitting in.

‘We’re a good group, we bounce off each other and opinions are being thrown about and I’m the unlucky one on who to leave out or who to play.

‘Kieran and Michael remind me of me when I was younger and listening to Mike and Demps for their views because they’ve got a bit more experience.’

Antonio Valencia, who has played just twice since November, has suffered a setback in training.

‘Hopefully he’ll recover because he’s been training hard really hard then he got a setback so hopefully in a couple of weeks,’ Solskjaer said.

‘He’s captain for us, hopefully we can get him back on the pitch, but it was hard when he broke down, he would’ve travelled now this weekend.’