Manchester United

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hits out at "stupid" Jose Mourinho tactics

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 15 January 2019

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer appears to label Jose Mourinho's tactics during his time in charge of the club as "stupid".

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has appeared to aim a thinly-veiled dig at his predecessor Jose Mourinho's tactics during his time in charge of the club.

Mourinho was often criticised for adopting a negative style, particularly in big games, and his approach is understood to have been one of the reasons behind his sacking in December.

Solskjaer has since won all six of his games in interim charge, scoring 17 goals along the way, and he suggested that the previous regime's style was not in line with the club's attacking ethos.

"The first thing is to smile when you're at Manchester United because when it's over you do miss it," Solskjaer told former strike partner Teddy Sheringham when asked what needed to change upon his arrival at the club.

"It's about attacking, about pace, about power. I know we (nodding to Teddy) didn't have the best of pace but we still attacked.

"That's what Manchester United are built around – attacking football and going forward. Not stupid square and back passes."

Solskjaer is the first manager in United's history to win his opening six matches at the helm, catapulting him to the top of the list of candidates for the role on a permanent basis.