Ole Gunnar Solskjaer comes out fighting to claim Manchester United are backing him

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer still believes he is the right man to turn Manchester United‘s season around and insists he retains the backing of the club’s board.

United head to Everton on Saturday lunchtime and a defeat will see them heading into the international break sitting just above the Premier League relegation zone.

They have suffered back-to-back defeats to Arsenal and Istanbul Basaksehir this week to increase the pressure on Solskjaer but he came out fighting when addressing the media on Friday afternoon.

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists he is the right man to turn around the club’s season as they prepare to play Everton on Saturday lunchtime

United head to Everton on Saturday having been embarrassed by Istanbul Basaksehir

He said: ‘I’ve always had a good, open, honest dialogue with the club. They have shown strong leadership and good dialogue since I’ve come in.

‘It’s sunny in Manchester today and I don’t expect the wind to turn. There is always pressure and expectation. I grew up here and became a man at Manchester United.

‘I learned how to deal with the good and the bad times. You’re a top coach or manager when you win and a bad one when you lose.

‘I don’t look at one or two results and fall like a house of cards. It’s a setback, definitely. There has been too much made of not scoring against Arsenal or Chelsea, there has been pretty much nothing in those two games.

Solskjaer believes he retains the backing of United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward

‘It’s not too long ago we were the best thing since sliced bread when you beat Leipzig and PSG. So there’s ups and downs in football and that’s just the way it has to be.’

The Norwegian added: ‘You have to be mentally strong. There are demands on United players and manager, there is also expectation because we are at the best and biggest club in the world.

‘You don’t expect anything but criticism, it’s how you deal with setbacks and from what I’ve seen from the players they’ve been very focused.’

Asked about United’s inconsistent form at the start of the season, Solskjaer said:  ‘Every game lives its own life and there are fine margins. Results create the headlines and the backdrop. 

‘In games you win, you are praised and that was a fantastic performance. Sometimes you lose and are criticised. It’s not as black and white as that.

‘We are looking to improve our consistency, to consistently do well. We need a response.’

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