Ole excited ahead of Newcastle and remainder of season

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is excited about what lies in store for Manchester United and himself in the New Year.

The caretaker manager has made it three wins from three since replacing the departing Jose Mourinho last month.

Solksjaer will be looking to make it four straight when we travel to Newcastle United later this evening in our first match of 2019.

Prior to the match the boss has been speaking to MUTV, and has told the cameras that he is excited about what the New Year has to offer. Ole said:

“I’ve got to say, going into the new year the way I’ve done, I’ve never done [before] but I’m so excited about the new year..

“I’m just going to enjoy my time here now. Working with players of this quality, when you’re a coach or a manager, you think ‘this will be enjoyable’.”

We have thumped Cardiff City 5-1, Huddersfield Town 3-1 and Bournemouth 4-1 in quick succession under the Norwegian’s management as we are back within eight points of the top four and possible Champions League football again next season.

Newcastle United themselves are down in 15th place, only three points above the relegation zone but got a 1-1 draw at Watofrd on Saturday – 24 hours before we were last in action.

At this stage Ole Gunnar Solskjaer doesn’t appear to worry too much about how the opposition plays but rather concentrate on our game. The Norwegian continued:

“That’s what I say to the boys – if we’re thinking too much about the opposition, our own play will be diluted.

“So we should just focus on ourselves. Newcastle cause one problem different to what Bournemouth will do. So [we’ll watch] one or two clips about the opposition, but the rest is about us. Play the way we should do, and play like a Man United team.

“Away from home, it doesn’t have to be all-out attack, gung-ho, but of course it’s going to be with a foundation and [then] go forward when we can.”

However, Solskjaer is well aware that Newcastle play a different style than Bournemouth. Fans can expect Rafa Benitez to set up very defensively at St James’ Park this evening. Ole just wants us to play the Manchester United way though:

“Newcastle cause one problem different to what Bournemouth do, so that’s one or two clips on the opposition but the rest is about us. Play the way we should do, and play like a Man United team.”

Victories for Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur yesterday have not helped us close the gap on the top four this week, but victory away to Newcastle United this evening matched by Chelsea failing to beat Southampton would be the best possible way for us to start 2019.