PSG vs Manchester United: Gary Neville goes full fan boy in interview with ‘next manager’ Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Neville was the epitome of the feel-good factor that had returned to Manchester United under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the pair revelled in the victory over Paris Saint-Germain
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Your support makes all the difference.Gary Neville appeared to go full Manchester United fan boy while interviewing former teammate and friend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer immediately after Wednesday’s famous Champions League victory over Paris Saint-Germain, as he anointed the Norwegian as the next permanent United boss-in-waiting.
The light-hearted interview, carried out by Neville on Bein Sports, saw the former United defender beaming from ear to ear after watching United battle against the odds to overturn a 2-0 deficit and progress to the quarter-finals via away goals after a 3-3 aggregate draw.
Neville and Solskjaer were both part of the United side that lifted the 1999 Champions League trophy, with the pair clearly enjoying those memories 20 years on as United recorded one of their most famous wins since that day in Barcelona.
And with Neville unable to contain his delight, he quickly asked Solskjaer three questions – all of which involved him becoming the next permanent Manchester United manager.
Solskjaer remains in interim charge of United until the end of the season, but after guiding his former club to the last eight in Europe and back into the top four of the Premier League, there is the growing expectation that Solskjaer will be installed on a permanent basis sooner rather than later.
Watch the interview by Neville below and read the full transcript underneath.
Gary Neville: Ole Gunnar, I’ve three very quick questions for you. How long would you like on your contract, what would you like your salary to be and where would you like the statue?
“Fantastic night eh? I’m just going to do my best until the summer, see what the club decides.
GN: They’ve only got one decision to make now haven’t they?
“I hear you keep saying that so…tonight we have to remember, a fantastic night, just the spirit of Man United. Great to see the boss (Sir Alex Ferguson) in there after the game for the first time and the lads were just absolutely magnificent.”
GN: The thing is about the group of players – I heard them actually through the door singing your name – they absolutely love you don’t they?
“I don’t know, but they get results! We have a good relationship I have to say and it’s been fantastic coaching them with Kieran, Michael, Demps, Mick and Emilio. Of course we’re a great team together, the players I think enjoy us and we just want them to improve, we want them to have nights like this. We’ve been part of this ourselves haven’t we?”
GN: I heard you in your press conference yesterday and you never said one negative word, everything was positive, but I was watching it thinking ‘you’re just saying that because you have to say that’ but you actually believe it didn’t you?
“Of course, of course! But you’ve been here, I coach these (players) and I’ve gotten to know the players and you know being underdogs is not usual for us at Man United but it was a nice feeling for the boys today. A lot of young players, loads of players who have not played and it’s great for them to just go out and have nothing to lose and we just said ‘go out and express yourself, we know we have to defend more than we’ve ever done and run more than we’ve ever done but you’ll get chances, and take them’.”
GN: The faith you’re showing in the young lads is incredible?
“It’s nice to give Mason a debut hey? At the Parc des Princes, we need a goal – and Chongy (Tahith Chong) as well, he got on the ball, made a couple of runs. It was fantastic to see.”
GN: How do you bring them down after that ahead of Sunday? Have you started already?
“Yeah of course because we’ve got Arsenal. We’ve got the biggest game for us. We need to be among the top four when the season finishes. We’ve been down there earlier on in the FA Cup so we know how hard it’s going to be, but now of course they’ll have to enjoy this. The boss (Ferguson) has been in there saying hi to them and you’ve got to enjoy these nights.”
GN: Is that the best moment in your coaching career?
“Definitely, absolutely unbelievable, and it was great to be there. These are the moments, you do it with your coaching staff, with your players, with the staff as well, the supporters, that’s what football is all about, doing it together – as long as I don’t get kissed on the forehead!”
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