Solskjaer blasts back at Man Utd hero Van Persie after criticism over smiling

Posted Saturday, January 04, 2020 by Thesun.co.uk

Solskjaer blasts back at Man Utd hero Van Persie after criticism over smiling
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer launched a bitter attack on Robin Van Persie after the Dutchman said he should not be seen smiling in defeat Credit: Getty - Contributor

OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER launched a bitter attack on Robin Van Persie after the Dutchman said he should not be seen smiling in defeat.

And in a double whammy angry Ole also condemned Mino Raiola who has vowed never to take another player to Old Trafford where, he claimed, icons like Pele and Maradona would have been “ruined”.

The Old Trafford boss, like Van Persie when he played for the club, wore the No20 shirt.

Dutchman Van Persie won the 2012-13 Prem title in Sir Alex Ferguson’s last season in charge.

After he saw Solskjaer grinning before a TV interview in the aftermath of the New Year’s Day 2-0 defeat the 36 year old said: “When I listen to Ole, he sounds like a really nice guy.

“I would like to see him a bit more mean at times, just be angry.

"I see him smiling now after a game like that. This is not the moment to smile.”

Solskjaer, his face almost white with anger, was scathing in his response, saying: “I don’t know Robin and Robin doesn’t know me.

“He probably doesn’t have a right to criticise my management style and I won’t change. That’s definite.

“Yeah Robin, he took my No20, and that’s probably all he’s going to take from me as well.”

And by way of backing up his belief that scowling and sulking after defeat isn’t his way in the modern world he snarled: “I’m not in medieval times!”

Solskjaer also hit out at Paul Pogba’s agent Raiola, furious over his insult toward the club in the week that Erling Haaland – also represented by the agent – signed for Borussia Dortmund and not United.

Asked if he thought that agents should talk about clubs he said “No”, then revealed he intends to have discussions over the matter with Pogba who faces a further four weeks out after new surgery on his ankle.

Solskjaer stressed : “I can speak to Paul about it.

“I don’t think I should be talking to agents or about agents that talk about us.

“But Paul Pogba is our player and agents are hired by players, not the opposite way around.

“It’s not ‘agents’ players’ it’s ‘our players’.”