Former Manchester United head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said that watching his former club “struggling” is “hard to watch” and that looking at the Premier League table is “never easy.”
The legendary former United striker’s tenure at Old Trafford spanned between December 2018 and November 2021. He was first appointed as interim coach after José Mourinho’s exit and then as permanent manager when he led the club to the Europa League final in 2021 where they lost on penalties to Villarreal.
Solskjaer was named as head coach of Besiktas on January 18 and signed a contract with the Turkish Super Lig side until the end of next season.
Despite looking well-set to reach their first Europa League final since Solskjaer’s time at the club, United have endured a difficult campaign. Under Ruben Amorim, they are 15th in the Premier League table with four matches left to play.
“Man United is my family and will always be part of me,” Solskjaer told the BBC.
“In football, you don’t feel sorry for anyone because we are privileged, absolutely 100% privileged to be able to work in clubs like this.
“But for me, it is hard to watch because it is your family that is struggling. It is never easy at the weekend when you look at the table.”
Under Solskjaer, Besiktas sit fourth in the Turkish Super Lig. They harbour hopes of a top-three finish which, depending on the result of the Turkish cup final, would offer a Europa League playoff spot for next season’s competition.
