Solskjaer expecting tough Showgrounds challenge

As Sligo Rovers prepare for their first UEFA Champions League appearance since 1977, they will be facing one of the competitions legends when they take on Norwegian champions Molde, managed by former Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Solskjaer spoke to the assembled press on Wednesday evening and began by talking about his analysis of The Bit O’Red and the level of the League of Ireland as a whole.

“He (Ian Baraclough) has got the team playing well, they are different to what you would expect before you analyse them. We have had people over here watching them live, we have watched videos and the only question mark is “what is this level?”

“We saw that Drogheda drew 0-0 with Malmo and they lost 2-0 in Sweden so that is an indication on the level that we are going to face and they are going to be two tough matches.”

Solskjaer has done his research on Ian Baraclough’s squad and is well aware a number of his players bring experience to The Showgrounds from various levels of English football.

“I was in England for a long time and I know a few of the Sligo players have been around the block as well with Newcastle and Sheffield United, (Anthony) Elding has been with Stockport and Grimsby so you would expect channel balls and crosses but they also play football through the middle and try to build up from the back so we will face both the crosses and the team that also try to dominate possession as well.”

Solskjaer spoke briefly about his shock following the announcement of Alex Ferguson’s retirement, but feels he has made the right choice in appointing David Moyes as his successor.

“I was shocked like everybody else to see him pack it in so soon, when it happened it was a shock for everyone but now the club has a new manager, everyone has to support him and I am really looking forward to seeing the team he builds and I am sure he is the right man for the job.

“It gives the support from the supporters, everyone will trust his decisions because it is best for the club, he feels he is the best option to replace him and I think he has made the right decision.”

While Ole Gunnar’s ambition is to reach the Champions League group stages, he but refuses to look beyond tomorrow’s game and feels that progress to the next round will not be an easy task.

“Last year we lost in the 3rd Qualifying Round to Basel, this year we would obviously love to go one step further in the Champions League, but to get there we need to beat Sligo and my ambition right now is to get a good result tomorrow. We need to get our campaign off to a bright start, try to claim possession of the ball and calm the crowd down.”

The 40-year-old’s name is forever etched in Champions League folklore as a Manchester United player and he has now revealed his dream of facing his old club with Molde in the competition.

“I have had both my ups and downs in the competition but obviously everyone remembers that one touch of the ball in 1999. The Champions League is the best place to play football because you meet the best players, you meet the best clubs and I would love to face Manchester United one day in the Champions League with Molde, it would be a dream.”