Already a match with personal significance to the manager, Manchester United’s penultimate pre-season friendly could turn out to be a very special occasion for the Solskjaer family.
Ole’s son Noah - a midfielder whose role model is Michael Carrick - could make his senior debut against the Reds in Oslo this evening.
“Of course, it’s special for him that he’s been training with the first team for the last couple of weeks, he’s just been promoted. He’s had a tough couple of years with operations so he’s getting there,” Ole said.
Kristiansund as a club is only 15 years old, formed in September 2003 when two rival clubs, Kristiansund FK and Clausenengen FK, merged. They have enjoyed a rapid rise through the Norwegian leagues, securing two promotions since 2012 and establishing themselves as an Eliteserien club.
“Every year for the last 15 years they’ve bettered their results and gone on, they’ve got higher and higher,“ Solskjaer added. ”They’ve got to get to third or fourth this season to keep that run going so that’s quite an achievement.
“I think this is a special day for everyone. All their players will be looking forward to this as if it’s Christmas Eve.”
Asked how he would react should Noah score, Ole was typically candid.
“Well done to him but we’ll do as much as we can to stop him.”
Source: Manchester United FC / Harriet Drudge