Ole backs Fifa tournament

Solskjaer urges Ferguson's men to win Fifa Club World Cup

By Richard Bailey   Last updated: 14th December 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Ole backs Fifa tournament

Solskjaer: Proud of his Intercontinental medal

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Former Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes that the Red Devils should do all they can to win the Fifa Club World Cup.

United flew out to Japan immediately after their 0-0 draw with Tottenham on Saturday and face a semi-final clash with Japanese side Gamba for a place in Sunday's final.

Solskjaer, now United's reserve team manager, was part of the United side that went to Brazil in a similar style tournament in 2000 after beating Bayern Munich in the 1999 UEFA Champions League final.

Despite admitting that at the time he and his team-mates did not rate the Fifa competition, Solskjaer insists that it is only since he retired that he wished he had taken the tournament seriously.

He told Sky Sports News: "It's the best teams in the world and now after I have retired I realise that we didn't really take the tournament in Brazil that seriously.

"It's not a competition that you normally think you're going to take part in and you don't think it's that important.

Important

"But it's a big trophy and other teams in the world and other continents regard this as the biggest game of the year so this year I think we have gone out there with the intention of winning it.

"When you are retired and you think, 'I won that trophy' and I look back to that game now and that tournament and think we should have gone for it."

The Norwegian forward was also a part of the United side that travelled to Japan in 1999 and defeated then South American champions Palmeiras in a one-off game to win the Intercontinental Cup.

As is the case now there was talk that United's title rivals would take advantage while the club were away, but Solskjaer is optimistic.

He added: "When we went to Japan a few years ago everyone thought we would come back and have to chase the teams in front of us but it didn't turn out like that the last time so hopefully it will be OK.

"The lads are going to enjoy the trip over there, it's going to be a break from the season and when they come back I think they will be ready for the league campaign again."