Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admits that he did harbour moments of doubt
that he would ever return to play for United following his serious
knee injury which caused him problems for three seasons.
Solskjaers long road to recovery has seen him return to the United
first-team this season, contributing five goals. More importantly,
he has done as a substitute, a starter, a forward and a winger.
Wherever his presence and experience is used, it has the desired
effect. His determination to return is a gutsy tale. But it could
have been so different.
You have one or two moments, he admitted, maybe for a couple of
minutes on a bad day where you think, maybe I should look in the
mirror and tell myself are you fooling yourself?. But its not
right being negative. I always try to be positive, and I dont
think I ever went to be thinking Im not going to make it.
The important thing now is that Ole will be involved for us, he
will play his part and he will score goals, enthused Sir Alex, sat
alongside Solskjaer at the pre-Copenhagen press conference. What
Ole has achieved is a great example of perseverance, determination
and belief. When you get a long-term injury at 31 years of age and
youre out of the game for two years, you have to think its going
to be serious.
But he has come back through his own will. He never seemed to
doubt. Every time I spoke to him he was always confident he could
come back. And you see him now, hes improving in every game.
Hes got me five goals so far, and I think he could get me 20
goals this season
easily. Is that pressure? Well, well make it 25
then! Its easy to talk in front of Ole because he wont get
carried away, Im quite confident of that.
As Ole explained, the United boss was influential during his
recovery process. The most important thing the manager did when I
was out injured was to give me the confidence and support that I
should take my time and make sure I was right before I came back.
It was always important not to push the injury, that is exactly
what the surgeon told me. It had to be a step-by-step
process.
The Norwegian strikers experience, particularly in Europe, is an
essential ingredient of the current United side. So too is the
youthful influence of the likes of Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo
and Darren Fletcher. It is a team Solskjaer is certain will be
successful, and one he is relishing being a part of.
I was hoping to be a part of this season, he said. With the
World Cup just gone, I knew I would have the chance to be ready and
available at the start of the campaign. So far its been a good
one. Im just glad to be a part of this team because Im sure it is
going to be successful.
"Every season you go into, you hope to make the finals. There are
seven or eight teams that could win it this season, and I think we
are one of them.
The older you get, the closer you get to the finish line. So, you
have to enjoy every moment. When you are a young player you think
it will last forever, as you get older you realise it wont. Im
just trying to enjoy playing football.
http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={B4CEE8FA-9A47-47BC-B069-3F7A2F35DB70}&newsid=371640