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What's the story?
As Ole Gunnar Solskjaer makes plans to revamp the Manchester United squad this summer transfer window, former United star player Park Ji-sung has spoken out in support of the head coach.
At a recent interview, Ji-sung discussed the vision Solskjaer has for the club, the serious drop in form after the club permanently appointed him, and how important support from United's board and fans is.
In case you didn't know...
The Norwegian manager was appointed as caretaker to Manchester Red after Jose Mourinho was sacked. Due to a surprising turn in the team's form, the board appointed Solskjaer as head coach on a permanent contract.
However, things took a turn for the worse after his appointment. United crashed out of the Champions League, failed to qualify for Europe's top competition, and were unable to string a decent number of results.
Even before the transfer window opened, there have been talks of an overhaul of the current crop of players at Old Trafford. It is very likely that Solskjaer would have to recreate, mold, and redefine the team into one powerful enough to claw their way back to the echelons of European football.
The heart of the matter
Although a lot of United fans have been angry with Solskjaer in recent times, Park Ji-sung remains unfazed about the Norwegian's capabilities:
"I believe he was the best man for Manchester United at that time.
“He was interim manager which was a very good option for both the club and Ole because they both have an opportunity.
"Ole was different in the way he watches football. When he was watching the game from the bench, he was always thinking about 'how can I change the game when I get into the pitch'.
“It's not an easy way of thinking, and I believe it was a perfect attitude for every player."
United's form dropped drastically after Solskjaer's permanent appointment, but Ji-Sung says he saw it as a psychological issue:
“I believe there was a psychological issue. At the beginning of his time as a manager at Man Utd, there was a strong motivation for finishing top four and also Champions League.
“But, after they knocked out of the Champions League, and lost a game in the league, they suffered from the pressure. I believe that kind of psychological pressure was hard for the players."
Park Ji-Sung also shifted the focus to next season and spoke about backing Solskjaer up:
"About next season, it's important for Manchester United to support their manager. Supporting the manager to get the players he wants. The quicker, the better, so that new players can spend the pre-season together with the current team.”
What's next?
Manchester United remain focused on having a successful summer transfer window. Pre-season will start in July with the team visiting Norway.
