With the 16th round of the Premier League about to kick off with the Manchester City Derby, The Athletic Magazine exclusively interviewed Manchester United legend Solskjaer, digging deeper into his unforgettable moments and unique emotions from the classic clash.
The Stadium Years: The Player Era Crossover
Solskjaer looked back fondly on his time at City, where the rivalry with the Blue Moon was still in full swing despite the away atmosphere not being as tense as at Old Trafford. "At Old Trafford we had a bigger mission on our backs and had to open up and control the tempo of the game." He referred to the 1-3 defeat at Maine Road which, despite his goal, left him with a heavy heart and Sir Alex Ferguson was equally angry with his team's performance.
Tactical Wisdom: Winning in the Age of Coaching
As United manager, Solskjaer had won three consecutive games at home to City, despite possession averaging less than 35%. He revealed that his team managed to withstand the onslaught of the Blue Moon through the flexible use of width and pace, as well as outstanding performances from players such as Martial and B Faye. "City put you under huge pressure from the start of the game and their use of possession and width of the pitch was superb." Solskjaer emphasized that they were able to beat their strong opponents away from home thanks to their subtle tactics and the excellent performance of their players.
A tribute to Pep Guardiola
Speaking about Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, Solskjaer expressed his heartfelt respect. "Guardiola is very respectful and I respect him a lot." He confessed that beating Guardiola's side is a moment every manager craves and United have achieved the feat three times.
Victory and Loss
Solskjaer also shared a unique insight into the Manchester City Derby. He described the taste of victory as so sweet, while the taste of defeat is exceptionally bitter. He advised the players to relax after the game but was unable to leave the pitch himself due to work. He recalled how at the end of the 2019 game there were at least 3,000 loyal United fans in the away stand, including his children, who together witnessed the electric atmosphere in the United fan zone and the eventual triumphant triumph.
