Latest news with #ex-Norway
Daily Mirror
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer delivers savage eight-word dig after beating Jose Mourinho
Besiktas earned a derby win away against Fenerbahce as Ole Gunner Solskjaer earned a win over Jose Mourinho before being able to fire a clever quip in his press conference Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made a tongue-in-cheek remark to Jose Mourinho, after the pair faced off in the Turkish Super League. Manchester United hero Solskjaer came away with a victory against the former Chelsea boss as he guided his Besiktas side to a narrow 1-0 win over Fenerbahce. The duo have a shared history after the ex-Norway sharpshooter succeeded Mourinho in the Old Trafford hotseat. Mourinho won the EFL Cup and Europa League while in charge at United but lasted little more than two seasons at the club. After seven wins in 19 games, the Portuguese coach was sacked with the Red Devils 19 points off of top spot. Solskjaer took the reigns as caretaker manager before being appointed as the permanent boss on a three-year contract after winning 14 matches of his first 19. Ultimately, Solskjaer's stint did not bring silverware to the club and he was sacked in 2021. The 52-year-old's move to Besiktas is his first managerial role since being given his marching orders by United chiefs. And Solskjaer has guided Besiktas to fourth in the table since being appointed in January, and sit 20 points behind Mourinho's Fenerbahce's side. That counted for little as the Black Eagles earned an unfancied win to ruffle Mourinho's feathers. Gedson Fernandes' goal on the verge of half-time separated the sides to leave the Special One fuming. "If we played Besiktas 10 times, we'd win eight," he said. "They'd win one, and one would be a draw.' Asked for his response, Solskjaer offered a quick quip after earning three points. "Looks like they'll be winning the next eight," he offered. There were no sparks flying between the managers however. "Ole is here for a few months," said Mourinho "He is experienced and intelligent enough to learn what he has to learn. I am nobody to give him advice. "We spoke in the tunnel before the game. It was normal things two guys who respect each other but have to play a match say to each other. After it was the same. "We are experienced enough for him not to be on the moon because he won, just as I am not in hell because I lost a derby. We respect each other well. I think we like each other too. I would say that." Mourinho did appear in a fiery mood however, with Galatasaray's title win drawing a step closer. The league-leaders are eight points clear of Fenerbahce with four matches remaining. The ex-Inter Milan manager aired some of his grievances. "When some of your players don't perform well enough, it affects your collective performance as well," he said. "The outcome of the league was determined before the league even started. The games we lost at home were decisive. VAR decisions, referee decisions. I am so tired of talking about these. I have no power, nothing changes, but this is the situation, this is the truth." Despite having another year on his contract, Mourinho's future appears uncertain. The veteran's latest comments will do little to quell any speculation over how long he has remaining in Turkey. "I am not speaking about next season," he said. "I will speak internally, not to the media. If there is something, out of respect to the president and the board, I will not bring it into the public."
Scotsman
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Polarizing ex-Rangers man defends Ibrox spell and delivers alarming next manager verdict
The £12million former Rangers striker gave an in-depth interview on his time at Ibrox. Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Former Rangers forward Tore Andre Flo has defended his often polarizing spell at Ibrox but admits the intense media coverage he received after making his megabucks move hindered his success in Govan. The ex-Norway ace joined Rangers in 2000 from English Premier League outfit Chelsea for a record fee of £12million, which remains the club's record fee for an incoming transfer, and scored 38 goals in 72 games for the Glasgow giants before returning to England to sign for Sunderland two years later. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In a new in-depth interview, the Norwegian striker has opened up on his record breaking move that often splits opinion in the Rangers fanbase, detailing why he still loves the city of Glasgow and making an alarming admission that there is 'not many outstanding candidates' for the vacant Ibrox managerial role. 'I have to admit that it surprised me how much attention that got in Scotland' said Flo. 'Obviously in England there were a lot of transfers of that size, but it wasn't like that in Scotland, so media was very hung up on the price tag, and that followed me around throughout my time at the club. Tore Andre Flo celebrates after netting for Rangers. | SNS Group 0141 221 3602 'Every time when my name was mentioned, so was the transfer fee. It was a little bit of a burden, I have to admit that. And sometimes I wished I came to Rangers in the same way as I came to Chelsea [he joined Chelsea from Norwegian club team Brann for less than half a million pounds]. It would have made things a lot easier and there would have been a lot less pressure on me to succeed. Those kinds of fees command attention, and a certain level of expectation. Sometimes that can be a burden for a player. 'I felt I had great relationship with the fans - and to be honest, I did quite well. If I had that same price tag as I had Chelsea, I would have been a great success up there. But then again, I love the club, I love the people in Scotland, I love the culture, and yes, I would have liked to play football there without the media always talking about the price tag.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Asked who he believes should be the next man in the Rangers dugout, the 51-year-old praised the qualities of ex-teammate Barry Ferguson, hailing him as a 'fighter'. 'I think he's [Ferguson] a tough guy,' said Flo. 'He could take a bit of pressure. He was our captain. His mind is tough, his mindset. He's a fighter. I don't know him personally as a manager or a coach but I only know his mindset and I feel that he can handle that type of pressure.
