Man Utd need to be more like Tyson Fury! – Solskjaer hits back at critics

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:54 CDT
• 4 min read

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hit back at his critics but admitted that his side have to become more like heavyweight world champion boxer Tyson Fury when it comes to receiving criticism.

Man Utd have suffered a damaging period of form, losing three of their last four Premier League matches and struggling to two victories in the Champions League.

It has been a particularly tumultuous week for the club in the aftermath of a 5-0 home thrashing by Liverpool, in which Paul Pogba was sent off shortly after coming on as a substitute.

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Solskjaer’s own position has come under scrutiny as a result, while certain players have also come in for criticism, with the suggestion being that they are not good enough to be at the club.

The manager now says that his players should draw inspiration from Fury, who was knocked down twice in his recent title defence against Deontay Wilder before delivering a knockout of his own in a historic bout earlier in October.

"Of course, you have to hold hands up and that performance against Liverpool is not acceptable, and we have to look at why it was not acceptable and why it went as it did,” he said.

“I use the analogy: it felt like we were a boxer being punch drunk, knocked down in the first four minutes or in the first round. We had a chance, we conceded a goal, we wanted to sort it out, and went a bit too open and too frantic against a good team.

“You see Tyson Fury when he gets knocked down a couple of times, it's remarkable how calm and composed he is on the floor, counts to six, seven, eight and he gets up and goes again. We got up too early and tried to sort it. Minds have to be better but we've had to look at different things as well, the communication has to be direct.”

Solskjaer’s situation

Solskjaer, meanwhile, has been left particularly frustrated by claims that he has lost the dressing room and the players are trying to force him out.

In particular, Pogba was said to have snubbed the manager after his dismissal only for the France star to deny the claims on social media.

“I don't read social media but Paul came up to me angry,” he said. “We expect to be criticised, hands up, the performance wasn't good enough, but we can't accept when lies are made up.

“Paul told me what he put up on his social media. We're better than that as a group - the culture, environment is better, we can't stand for blatant lies. They've got to stand up and say so. All the opinions and reports, fine, but don't make up lies about players or me.”

Solskjaer remains in charge for a Premier League fixture against Tottenham on Saturday, but could find himself out of a job before the November international break if he sees his side toil again.