I Don’t Know You: Solskjaer Goes Hard On Van Persie Over Criticism After Arsenal Defeat

Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, has warned former club player, Robin van Persie, after he criticised his reaction to the 2-0 defeat at Arsenal on New Year’s day.
United made a disappointing start to the new year with an underwhelming performance at the Emirates Stadium.
While covering the game as a pundit on BT Sport, Van Persie suggested that Solskjaer had smiled too much during his post-match interview.
“When I listen to Ole, he sounds like a really nice guy,” Van Persie said.
“I would like to see him a bit more mean at times, just be angry. I see him smiling now after a game like that. This is not the moment to smile.”
However, Solskjaer took a dim view of Van Persie’s comments, going offensive ahead of United’s FA Cup third round trip to Wolves on Saturday.
“I don’t know Robin and Robin doesn’t know me,” Solskjaer stated.
“He probably doesn’t have a right to criticise my management style and I won’t change. That’s definite.”
Van Persie and Solskjaer did not play together at Old Trafford, with the Norwegian leaving a coaching role at the club a year before Van Persie joined.
The Dutchman is also one of the few high-profile ex-United players working in the broadcast media not to have played with Solskjaer.
But Van Persie wore Solskjaer’s former squad number during his three-year spell at Old Trafford, a fact Solskjaer made reference to on Friday, while claiming his management style is not stuck in the past.
“He took my No. 20 and that’s probably all he’s going to take from me as well,” he added.
“I’m not in medieval times.”