Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's message to Man Utd stars as he aims to be permanent boss

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has told the Manchester United players who have done him proud that his future rests in their hands.

The 45-year-old Norwegian, currently in interim charge while 'on loan' from his job managing Molde back home, believes he can continue in his dream job as United boss beyond the end of the season after ­starting his reign with seven straight ­victories and then the midweek rally from 2-0 down to draw with Burnley.

Solskjaer bristles at the ­suggestion he is not a big enough name to be the Old Trafford giants' ­manager on a permanent basis, and he has revealed that he is ­already working on plans for next season — including transfer targets.

 

“This job is like a wheel spinning round," said the former United striker, before Sunday's trip to Leicester. “I have to make the players ­perform better. If I can get the team playing better, get the ­players to respond to me, see the results get better and show that the playing style is there, then that will be a big plus for me.

“But this has never been all about me. I’m not here to talk about myself and other so-called big-name managers.What is a big name?

“For me, it’s about how you work with the players and work with the club.

“If I had set myself targets in terms of results, I think that would have been the wrong process. When I came in, it was about talking to the players about their performances and what we expect from the playing style.

“I knew that if we could get the playing style right, we would get enough points to be in with a shout of the top four towards the end of the season.”

As Sunday Mirror Sport ­revealed last week, executive ­vice-chairman Ed Woodward is committed to a process of identifying a number of ­managerial candidates and Tottenham ’s Mauricio ­Pochettino has strong support in the United boardroom.

 

But if Solskjaer wins the Champions League — United face Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 later this month — or even just delivers a top four finish to qualify for that competition again next term, then his bid for the job will surely be ­unstoppable.

His impact off the pitch has also been impressive.

Anthony Martial has committed ­himself to a new, five-year contract and talks are continuing for David de Gea to do the same. The midweek departure of ­Marouane Fellaini to Chinese club Shandong Luneng was also ­ratified by the interim boss, and he is ­involved in planning for 2019-20.