PL : Solskjaer reveals Manchester United's change of 'mindset' since replacing Jose Mourinho

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer claimed that the only thing he has changed at Manchester United is the “mindset” after recording two wins in his first two games.

Solskjaer took caretaker charge of United last week following the dismissal of Jose Mourinho and taken six points from a possible six since.

United followed Saturday’s 5-1 victory at Cardiff City with a 3-1 triumph against Huddersfield Town on Boxing Day, which marked Solskjaer’s Old Trafford return.

The Norwegian, who scored 126 goals in 366 games as a United player, appears to be on his way to healing the wounds opened by Mourinho’s reign.

Yet Solskjaer denied he had changed much in his eight days in charge so far and said he had only had an influence on the squad’s mentality.

“You don’t in one week change anything, but you change the mindset,” he said. “I want my team to play in a certain way and you give them little pointers and it’s a work in progress. 

“It’s going to take time for players to go from one manager and the details he wanted. I’ve done a little bit of a tweak but we’ll improve as time goes on.

“I just said to the staff when you get 2-0 or 3-0 up, you think next week we’ll have [Alexis] Sanchez and [Anthony] Martial back, we’ll have [Romelu] Lukaku to put on. Maybe we could have really finished them off then.”

Sanchez has not featured since the goalless draw with Crystal Palace last month after picking up a hamstring injury which Mourinho described as “aggressive”.

Solskjaer revealed that the Chilean has returned to training and could play against Newcastle United in the New Year.

The United caretaker also praised Sanchez’s “workaholic” attitude after the forward turned up for work on Christmas Day, despite being scheduled to have a day off.

“Yes, Alexis is back,” he said. “I can’t remember what day it was [that he returned] but he’s had two days of good fitness work. 

“Hopefully he can join in training with the ball as soon as we get back in. He’s touch and go for Bournemouth, but probably or definitely involved at Newcastle.

“I’ve not had time to sit down and speak in that detail but of course we had a day off on Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day he was off but he was in training. He’s eager to get back on the pitch. He’s a workaholic, it seems like.”

- INDEPENDENT