Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has at all times been a particular case. A participant not essentially the most gifted, not essentially the most athletic, not essentially the most elegant, however who managed one thing particular: To change into one among a sort. A class all by itself: Of… completely “golden change”!
At a time when Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United had been dropping within the 90' and the opposition had been afraid of… dropping themselves, the Norwegian was an emblem of the “by no means surrender” mentality.
With the purpose he scored in Barcelona, sealing essentially the most dramatic upset ever in a Champions League remaining, he turned one of the adored figures within the membership's historical past. With a lot of his complete 126 targets (in 366 appearances) he “unleashed” the crew. With the 12 titles he celebrated (in 11 years at “Outdated Trafford”) he was thought of an equal member of the unlikely crew that swept the whole lot after the 90s.
And but: He received the largest private apotheosis with a… pink card! The historic one he witnessed in a match with Newcastle in 1998!
Shortly earlier than the tip of the championship, United was chasing the pioneer Arsenal. Welcoming Kevin Keegan's crew there was no room for losses. However, two minutes earlier than the tip, it was caught at 1-1. Not solely that, nevertheless it got here head-on with a devastating defeat:
After a nook of their very own, Newcastle counter-attacked. With nearly all of her gamers up for the redemption purpose, Rob Lee burst on their own into her personal half. Till Solskjaer stated to take issues into his personal arms. Or somewhat at his ft. Or somewhat the opponent's… ft in his arms!
So with the intuition and foresight that made him such a invaluable scorer, the Norwegian knew one thing was going to go unsuitable. Making an unrepeatable dash, he bought near Lee. And by “pruning” him with an unrepeatably cynical carata (in order that he wouldn't rating), he noticed the one pink of his profession…
The expression “murderer with the face of an angel” (which had been attributed to him for his targets) had simply come near its literal affirmation. Opposing gamers and followers bandsawed him for his power and the danger of inflicting critical damage. However his self-sacrifice for his crew – the logic of doing no matter it took to defend it – made him handled as a hero:
The stands rose to their ft and gave him a standing ovation. David Beckham approached him to pet his head, listening to the phrase “I needed to”. Roy Keane was most likely in tears with emotion (and even with jealousy that he had not made such a fatality himself). Everybody was excited and appreciated his power besides one: Sir Alex Ferguson…
Within the locker room after the tip, the Scot didn’t share the keenness in any respect. The place others noticed self-sacrifice, he noticed a approach of approaching the sport that didn’t go well with him and the membership. And after telling him about it (and placing a positive of two weeks' wages), he led Solskjaer to declare years later:
“The katsada I ate after the sport and the explanation he gave it to me was proper. At Manchester United, no one needs to win like this. It isn’t in her philosophy. However the followers liked it”…
Supply: menshouse.gr
