In 1998, Tottenham had agreed to buy a striker for £5.5 million (S$9.5 million). Both clubs' chairmen had signed the form, until the selling manager intervened.
Alex Ferguson told Ole Gunnar Solskjaer he did not want him to leave Old Trafford. It proved one of the former Manchester United manager's finest decisions: In May 1999, the substitute Solskjaer scored the Champions League final winner.
Twenty-one years later, it still has repercussions. Had the Norwegian joined Spurs, he would not have been the Manchester United great summoned to reconnect an underachieving club with its glorious past. And without that, he would not be in with a chance of replacing Jose Mourinho as United's permanent manager.
His greatest rival for the post is tomorrow's opponent: Tottenham versus United doubles up as a shoot-out between Solskjaer and Mauricio Pochettino.
The Norwegian brings a knowledge of life inside Old Trafford, an understanding of attacking traditions and the popularity that stems from both his playing days and his likeable personality.
He appeals to the nostalgic, but has shown an immediate ability to galvanise United's younger players. He has ditched some of Mourinho's pragmatic choices and played positive football.
Yet his disastrous spell at Cardiff raises questions if he can prosper at a higher level than Norwegian club Molde. His five United wins have come against inferior opponents.
This is a first test against peers whereas Tottenham, fresh from defeating Chelsea in their League Cup game, already have one major scalp this week and a growing record of beating the best at home.
Whereas Solskjaer has had five games at United, Pochettino is in his fifth year at Tottenham. The Premier League's most consistent overachiever promises sustainability.
Solskjaer has had an early effect on United's players, liberating them and allowing them to enjoy themselves, but, deprived of money to spend, Pochettino has continued to improve his Spurs charges. The Argentinian has shown he is tactically clever, swopping formations.
Solskjaer is channelling his mentor Ferguson, looking to outscore opponents. Pochettino's theories owe more to his initial influence, Marcelo Bielsa, the current Leeds manager who was the former coach of Argentina and Chile.
But a philosophy based around pressing and passing at pace makes Pochettino, like Manchester City's Pep Guardiola and Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp, ultra-modern.
Yet if the Argentinian is the outsider, he has a synergy with United: A willingness to trust in youth earned him Ferguson's admiration.
If two enthusiasts offer to be the antithesis of the serial complainer Mourinho, they are his opposite in another respect. Neither has won a trophy in a major league whereas United's last two appointments have been Champions League winners. That does not rule either out, which shows how much an ethos now matters. United have lost their way.
Solskjaer is a reminder of what they stood for, Pochettino of what they could embody. But, as they meet, it is Pochettino who has shown he belongs at this level and Solskjaer who has it all to prove.
TOTTENHAM V MAN UNITED
Singtel TV Ch102 & StarHub Ch227, Monday, 12.30am
With many of the 7,000 Raufoss inhabitants now familiar with Singapore striker Ikhsan Fandi's name, it seems like the Raufoss No. 18 has taken to Norwegian football like fish to water, or like a
Ikhsan Fandi starts playing as an adult in Norway - Sport Witness
sportwitness.co.uk/ikhsan-fandi-starts-playing-adult-norway/
Ikhsan Fandi is a 20 striker-year-old Singapore player with big ambitions for his future, currently playing for Norway right now. The young man is full of wonder as he learns to live on his own
Football: 'Adulting' Ikhsan finds his footing in Norway
Football: Tunisian club win African title after final abandoned over video assistant referee JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - Esperance won the CAF Champions League in Tunisia Saturday (June 1) after Wydad Casablanca refused to continue playing on 60 minutes because VAR was unavailable to judge a disallowed equaliser.
Tunisian club win African title after final abandoned over VAR
London - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was fined £45 000 by the Football Association (FA) on Thursday for suggesting referee Kevin Friend had favoured West Ham in his side's 1-1 draw at the
Football: Liverpool's Klopp fined over referee comments
DUBLIN, June 10 (Reuters) - Ireland had an own goal by Joseph Chipolina and an injury-time header by substitute Robbie Brady to thank for a 2-0 win over Gibraltar in their Euro 2020 Group D
Republic of Ireland beat Gibraltar to go top of Euro 2020
Southampton stun fading Spurs, Newcastle edge Everton in five-goal thriller men threw away an early lead through Harry Kane to lose 2-1 at Southampton yesterday. football chiefs ordered to
Southampton stun fading Spurs, Newcastle edge five-goal
Tottenham Hotspur keeper Hugo Lloris insists that his side must maintain their focus to secure Champions League football despite their fine recent form. Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris
Hugo Lloris warns Tottenham teammates they have no margin for
Fulham secured their first clean sheet of the season with some dogged defending in a 0-0 draw with Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday. The hosts, looking for a second successive
Football: Fulham dig deep to deny Newcastle and earn first
sportstons.com/soccer/football-fulham-dig-deep-to-deny-newcastle-and-earn-first-clean-sheet/
Football: Fulham dig deep to deny Newcastle and earn first clean sheet LONDON (REUTERS) - Fulham secured their first clean sheet of the season with some dogged defending in a 0-0 draw with Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday (Dec 22).
Football: Fulham dig deep to deny Newcastle and earn first
Shape up or ship out: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer warns his Manchester United squad they must be fit before pre-season or they will not go on tour. dailymail.co.uk - Joe Bernstein. Manchester United players have been given strict training programmes for their summer holidays — and been told to reach peak fitness before they …
Step Up or Ship Out - YouTube
Champions League final: Jurgen Klopp reveals Pep Guardiola called him to congratulate Liverpool on beating Spurs Manchester City manager was one of the first to congratulate Klopp following the 2-0 victory over Tottenham in Madrid after their season-long Premier League battle Load more
Liverpoolfc-blog (@LFC_Blog) | Twitter
Young Lions stay in hunt for finals. Singapore's Ikhsan Fandi (in blue), seen here in an earlier match against Hong Kong, scored a superb solo goal within a minute of kick-off against North Korea
Latest SINGAPORE FOOTBALL | The Straits Times
Manchester City will face Brighton in the semi-finals of this year's FA Cup as Pep Guardiola's quest for the quadruple marches on. The other semi-final will see Watford take on Wolves.
Manchester City to face Brighton in FA Cup semi-final
Football: PSG coach Thomas Tuchel hits out at Neymar after
Juventus, chasing an eighth successive Serie A title and still unbeaten, have 60 points from 22 games while Napoli have 51 after their 3-0 win over Sampdoria earlier on Saturday Juve went ahead in
Juve foiled by Gervinho brace after leading 3-1 - Football
watch soccer online free streaming live
super soccer tv live streaming piala dunia
watch champions league live streaming espn
watch soccer saturday live stream
watch coppa america live streaming putlockers
watch soccer live - live football streaming
watch premier league live streaming video
watch soccer online free live streaming livetv ru
watch coppa america live streaming bein sport
live football watch free live football streaming free soccer
watch coppa america live streaming totalsportek
watch champions league live streaming xfinity
watch coppa america live streaming barcelona
watch champions league draw live streaming
watch champions league final live streaming online
watch live english premier league online free streaming
watch uefa champions league live streaming sportek
watch live streaming soccer manchester united
watch bangladesh premier league live streaming
watch soccer live streaming reddit
watch coppa america live streaming sub eng
watch champions league live streaming now tv
watch coppa america live streaming spain
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online youtube
watch coppa america live streaming bt sport
free live football streams watch live streaming tv premier league
www.watch premier league live stream.com
watch coppa america live streaming cricfree
watch champions league semi final draw live stream
watch soccer online free streaming live batman
watch coppa america live streaming app
watch live soccer streaming free android
watch coppa america live streaming tv
watch champions league live streaming ptv sports
watch soccer game live espn
watch coppa america live streaming portugal
watch coppa america live streaming indosiar
watch champions league live streaming canada
watch uefa champions league live streaming youtube
watch champions league live streaming crictime
watch soccer aid live stream online
watch indian premier league live streaming
watch premier league live streaming juventus
watch premier league net live manchester united stream channel
watch champions league live streaming now
watch live soccer game barcelona vs real madrid
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online india
watch soccer aid live stream
watch premier league live stream hd
watch english premier league live streaming online
watch english premier league live streaming free
watch soccer online free streaming live first row
watch soccer online free live streaming hd
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch premier league live streaming live free
where to watch champions league live streaming
watch premier league matches live streaming
watch live streaming soccer online espn3
how to watch champions league live streaming
watch soccer live stream hunter
watch coppa america live streaming juventus
watch soccer live streaming hd
watch champions league draw live stream total sportek
watch coppa america live streaming juventus vs manchester united
how to watch soccer live streaming free
watch premier league live streaming xbox
watch coppa america live streaming game
watch soccer live streaming kenya
watch coppa america live streaming hotstar
watch coppa america live streaming online
watch champions league live streaming vf
watch soccer online free streaming live dracula
watch uefa champions league final live streaming free online
watch coppa america live streaming in india
watch soccer am online live streaming
watch champions league live streaming zee tv
watch sky sports premier league online free streaming live
watch soccer online free streaming live iphone
watch soccer live streaming qatar
watch premier league live in stream
super soccer tv live streaming indonesia
watch coppa america live streaming direct
watch champions league live streaming eng
watch premier league live streaming zimbabwe
best site to watch live soccer streaming
watch champions league live streaming zee5
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
#JUVENTUS #villarealcf #Celtic #sumbertv #henderson #24x7 #4Series #mensnightout #ucl #acmilan #seriea #Bar #manchesterunited #londoncity #Barca #BMW #coyg #valcea #knuckleball #manchestercity #coffeebreak #messi #battuteepiche #leomessi #goodday #adidasslipon #freekicks #manchestercity #gunners #elcasico #juventus #roadtrip #serieatim #chocolatecoffee #cr7 #ballondor #sixtimes #arsenalnews #cristiano #arsenal #PartyTime #championship #MyDubai #Liamgallagher #cristianoronaldo #ronaldo #transfernews #livestreaming #rugby #league1 #liverpoolfc #433skills #Suarez #jadwalbolahariini #Sunday #thomasmeunier #liverpoolfans #goal #midnight #arsenalfantv #sunderlandafc #crossfit #streamingbolaid #hotcoffee #livesports #paulmcartney
No comments:
Post a Comment