Source:
https://scmp.com/sport/football/article/3094796/premier-league-solskjaer-says-criticism-made-him-stronger-lampard Football
Premier League: Solskjaer says criticism made him stronger; Lampard looks to close gap
- Manchester United finish the season strongly and seal third place with a 2-0 win at Leicester City
- Chelsea seal a Champions League place after securing a 2-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers
Manchester United players celebrate Bruno Fernandes’ penalty that put them in front against Leicester City. Photo: DPA
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said the criticism he faced at the start of the Premier League campaign only made him more determined to succeed.
Solskjaer oversaw the club’s worst start to a top-flight campaign in 30 years but United finished the season strongly, sealing third place with Sunday’s 2-0 win at Leicester City.
“I don’t think many were predicting it, the predictions were for us to finish sixth or seventh,” Solskjaer, whose side went unbeaten in their last 14 league games, told reporters.
“I’ve always been made that way. If I’m getting criticised that makes me stronger in what I’m doing.
“We all have different ideas of management and I do it my way.”
Former United defender Gary Neville said the win to take third spot demonstrated progress but the club still needed to invest wisely in the transfer market.
“They need more players in their squad,” Neville told Sky Sports. “The last time they finished in the top four was under Jose Mourinho and they spent £170 million (US$218 million) in that summer and didn’t invest it wisely.”
Meanwhile, Frank Lampard said Chelsea cannot get carried away with a top-four finish in the Premier League if they are to bridge the gap with Manchester City and Liverpool next season.
Chelsea sealed a Champions League place after securing a 2-0 home win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday in their final League game of the season.
“I suppose at Chelsea we have to be careful getting excited by top-four finishes, but coming into the job, I don’t think a lot of people put us in that bracket,” Lampard told Sky Sports.
“We know where we are at, it is a progress and can we get better and now we’ve secured top four can we look to improve to close that gap?
“The gap is there for a reason and there because Manchester City and Liverpool have taken it to different levels.”
Chelsea play Arsenal in the FA Cup final on August 1 before taking on Bayern Munich in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on August 8.