Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has reiterated that he is the right man to take the club forward - despite the Red Devils currently enduring their worst run of form for 30 years.
Solskjaer, who was handed the reigns on a full-time basis back in March after steering the Old Trafford club to 14 victories in his 19 games in temporary charge, has saw his side's form nosedive since his permanent appointment, with Sunday's 4-0 drubbing at Everton their sixth defeat in their last eight games in all competitions.
But when asked in his pre-match press conference, to preview his side's huge game with arch-rivals Manchester City on Wednesday night, whether he remained the best fit to lead the Red Devils forward, the Norwegian quickly responded in backing himself to turn the club's fortunes around.
“Well I would like to say yes but it's not down to me to say that,” Solskjaer told members of the press at United's Aon Training Complex on Tuesday morning.
“I'm confident in my team and myself. I’ll be ready to take this challenge on. I know it's a big challenge and that’s why, when I came in here, I said I'm going to enjoy every single second. I don't like losing but it's a challenge all the managers at this club have had.
“When you go through bad results, you’ve got to be confident enough to say this is the way we're going to do it and plan ahead.”
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But despite their poor run of form, Solskjaer has told his under fire players that Wednesday's derby presents them with the “perfect” chance to respond.
“That’s the best game we could ask for now with players hurt as they definitely were, we have had a meeting after the game you can see all the players were definitely, definitely disappointed but really, really hurt by that performance and the City game is the perfect one,” the Norwegian said.
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“There's no hiding place on the pitch and our fans will back you whatever the result will be so long as you give that effort against a City side that has been very good. We have got to turn up. We focus on Wednesday and I’m sure we’ll get a response.
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“You don’t punish them as in run up to the mountains and back, we believe in them, these players know they let themselves down as individuals, as a team, me as well. I’m in charge and I’m the one giving instructions about how we’re going to play and it’s my duty to get them performing better than that and I’m sure we'll get a response.”
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