Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has claimed it would be ‘strange’ if he was not made Manchester United’s permanent manager this summer.
Solskjaer has overwhelming support to stay beyond this season after transforming United’s fortunes, with players and staff puzzled over the delay in installing him on a full-time basis.
However, the Norwegian — who appears in a club video to promote season-ticket sales for 2019-20 — remains in the dark over his future, saying: ‘Everyone knows you’d like to stay, of course, but that’s not decided until the end of the season. I’ve done a video shoot on season tickets, so I’m pleading for them to get their season tickets.
‘If it’s me as a supporter or manager, I don’t know, but they should still buy their season tickets because the club is going somewhere.
‘It’s not strange doing it, but it will be stranger to see yourself in the video if you’re not here. If my kids see a commercial with me in it and I’m back home in Norway, that’ll be strange probably.’ Solskjaer has been in discussions with United chief Ed Woodward over player recruitment for some time. ‘Every game is a big chance for the players to say that they want to stay, and it’s the same for everyone around the coaching staff,’ he added.
‘We want to improve everyone, that’s our job. The better we do, the bigger the chance to be here. Yes, we’ve been discussing the future of the club. We did that before I had won two or three games and all this talk about if I should stay or not. My contract is up in the summer, but I still give my best, as always for Man United.’ Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino is the other leading candidate for the job, but two defeats have left Spurs in danger of being caught by United. Solskjaer can make up more ground on the top four today because Spurs and Arsenal meet in the north London derby at Wembley.
United face struggling Southampton and Solskjaer said: ‘The results have meant we can challenge Tottenham now for (third) spot. It’s us, Chelsea, Arsenal, we’re all chasing them. It’s going to be an exciting race and every game is important. You don’t want to plan for the Europa League yet. To play in the Champions League for Man United is an even bigger thing.’