Europa League Draw: Solskjaer wants to face former team as his birthday wish-list
Manchester United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is dreaming of the perfect 48th birthday present today (Friday) – a Europa League last-16 pairing with his former club Molde.
Manchester United eased through to the next stage with a 4-0 aggregate win against Real Sociedad, following last week’s comfortable defeat of the Spaniards in Turin with a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford.
Meanwhile, as the Reds were booking a place in the draw in Switzerland, Norwegians Molde were pulling off a sensational win in Germany against Hoffenheim.
Molde had drawn at home, 3-3 the week earlier, in their first match since 19 December, having had a winter break in Norway.
Erling Moe’s side won 2-0 away from home, against the odds, at Hoffenheim’s expense to go into the draw with United.
Solskjaer, of course, signed for United back in 1996 after two seasons, when he scored 31 league goals in 42 appearances for Molde, and he also managed the club between 2011 and 2014 when current boss Moe was first-team coach.
And the United boss admits facing his old side would be on his birthday wish-list.
“Of course, I would like to meet Molde,” he declared.
“I spoke to Erling [Moe] this morning and they had loads of injuries and illness, and the state of the season they are at, that must be the performance of the round to go through against Hoffenheim. Absolutely exceptional.
“I am so proud of Erling and the boys and, if we play them, we know it is going to be difficult.
“Unfortunately, if we draw them, it is not going to be in Norway.”
Of course, there are 14 other teams in the hat for the midday draw as the Reds await our fate on the road to Gdansk.
Ajax, Arsenal, Dinamo Zagreb, Dynamo Kiev, Granada, Milan, Olympiacos, Rangers, Roma, Shakhtar Donetsk, Slavia Prague, Tottenham, Villarreal and Young Boys are the other clubs in the hat.
Meanwhile, the draw takes place today at 13:00 CET at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland. There is no seeding or country protection. Any restrictions will be announced ahead of the draw.
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