Solskjaer says he would 'love' to be full-time Man Utd boss

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told his first official

press conference as Manchester United's caretaker manager on Friday that he

would relish the opportunity to be the permanent boss.

The 45-year-old Norwegian, a legendary

former player at Old Trafford, has been appointed interim boss until the end of

the season, replacing Jose Mourinho, who was sacked on Tuesday.

Solskjaer, on loan from Norway's

Molde, conceded that he has not looked beyond the end of the current campaign

with the club where he spent nearly 15 years as a player and coach.

But he said he would be interested in

taking the job permanently should the opportunity arise.

"When you get a job like this and

they ask you to sign for six months, you say 'yeah'," he said.

"I'm happy to help out and my job

now for the next six months is to do as well as I can and move the club forward

as well as I can.

"I understand there are so many

managers who would love to be manager of Manchester United and I am one of

them. But it is not something we've talked about, they'll do a process now for

the next six months."

- United hero -

Solskjaer, renowned for his threat off

the bench and still revered by United supporters for scoring the winning goal

in the 1999 Champions League final, faces a daunting challenge as he replaces

Mourinho.

United have made their worst start in

the Premier League era and languish 19 points behind leaders Liverpool, and 11

off the Champions League places.

"My job is to help the players,

make them grasp the opportunity now because they all want to be part of Man

United," said Solskjaer.

"I'm going to be here to help

them, help the team, that is down to man management. I had the best manager as

a player and coach to learn how he dealt with players and it's about

communication. I'll sit down and speak to the ones not playing, tell them what

I expect of them.

"When you're at Man United there

are a set of demands and one is to be a team player and I don't think anyone

has been on the bench more than me. That's always my comeback to players, you

might come on and make an impact."

Solskjaer spoke of the debt he owed to

Alex Ferguson, who built a team that dominated English football, winning 13

Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues.

Solskjaer will begin his United reign

at Cardiff City, the only other Premier League club he has managed -- he had a

difficult eight-month spell in South Wales and was unable to save the club from

relegation.

But he said he had learned from his

mistakes.

Solskjaer would not be drawn on his

relationship with Paul Pogba, who lost his place under Mourinho and was in

conflict with the coach.

"It's about getting every player

to the best, speaking to them, the training ground, the philosophy, principles,

how we want to play," said Solskjaer, who coached Pogba in the reserves at

Old Trafford.

"It doesn't matter what team

you're coaching, they all want to have a picture of how you want to play, the

qualities.

"They are quality players so it

will be easier to get the players expressing themselves. You play with courage,

go out there and express your skills