Old Trafford ready to welcome back prodigal son Ole Gunnar Solskjaer when Man Utd take on Huddersfield

Manchester United fans already hold a special place in their hearts for the baby-faced assassin. His Champions League winner saw to that.

But now Solskjaer is back as the main man, fresh from overseeing a 5-1 thrashing of Cardiff in his first game in charge, and the supporters already in love with him all over again.

A giant banner in his honour has been hung in the stadium, the songs will be sung and this Boxing Day fixture will be turned into a coronation. And that is the biggest danger to the Norwegian.

Solskjaer, 55, admits he cannot afford to be sucked into the love-in with his adoring public even though he cannot wait to return home.

He said: “Of course, I will try to keep my emotion in check because I'm there to do a job, I've got to be focused.

“I’ve been back twice before. I was sat next to Rene Meulensteen in a reserve team game once as a coach, second half, and I was there with Cardiff. But, of course, it will be special.

“It's not easy, I don't think it will be easy.

“But I'm looking forward to it and I think the boys are looking forward to playing at Old Trafford.”

The United fans were belting out “You are my Solksjaer” to the tune of “You are my Sunshine” at Cardiff  so if that number is sung by a full Old Trafford it could be quite emotional for the Norwegian.

Solskjaer added: “They're the best fans in the world. Of course I have my history at the club and to see that banner is special.

“I just hope in the next five months I'll do a good enough job for them to keep singing my name.”

As a player, Solskjaer loved performing in front of the United faithful, but this season Old Trafford has been anything but the fortress of past teams.

The Reds have won just four of their eight Premier League matches at home, drawing three and serving up displays which suggested they were frightened to make mistakes.

Solskjaer is demanding his stars embrace playing in front a full-house at home once again, take confidence from their display at Cardiff and prove they are up to the standard of United.

He said: “That's the key, we should be looking forward to playing there.

“You can never set the bar too high. They're setting the standard. The players who play for this club have high standards to live up to.

“That comes when you sign for Man United. You know you're going to play in front of the best fans in the world.

“Confidence is not something you store into the fridge and pick out. You earn it by your performances, by your training, how you feel.

“At Cardiff, it's not like they were outperforming themselves. But we can be better, we can understand each other better.

“Hopefully this gave them a boost, so I'm happy and looking forward to it.

“I'm no different to anyone else. I'm no different to any other manager when they lead that team out onto the pitch. It comes with a responsibility but my job is to get the players enjoying themselves.”

Solskjaer has been at pains to draw on the lessons learnt from working under Sir Alex Ferguson, claiming it is the way to bring the good times back to United.

It has been such a whirlwind since his appointment last week that although they have spoken on the phone, they have yet to meet up in person to get down to talking business. That could all change at the end of the match against David Warner’s struggling side.

He added: “I've spoken to him, hopefully I'll go to his or he'll come to me and we'll have a talk.

“You know he's the boss. If there's anyone who can give me proper advice, not my team-mates, that's him.”

 

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