Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has told Jose Mourinho that finishing second to Manchester City is nothing to be proud of when you are manager of Manchester United.
Mourinho fired the first shots ahead of his clash with the man who replaced him at Old Trafford by ridiculing Solskjaer’s suggestion that winning trophies are an ego trip for some managers.
Now the Norwegian has hit back at the Tottenham boss by telling him that second place is nowhere when you’re in charge of United.
Solskjaer is on course to clinch runners-up spot behind Manchester City in the Premier League title race – three years after Mourinho claimed trailing Pep Guardiola’s Centurions by 19 points was one of his finest achievements.
And the United boss said: “You can’t say that (finishing second) is an achievement.
“Our ambition is a lot more than second place.
“I said that when I wasn’t even at the club. You can never be happy with that – and we’re not.
“Don’t get me wrong, our ambition is to catch the team in front of us.”
Finishing second would represent progress for the United boss – and he also hopes to go into contract negotiations in the summer on the back of a Europa League triumph.
But as United head to London to face a Spurs side who thrashed them 6-1 at Old Trafford six months ago, Solskjaer made it clear he won’t be satisfied with second place.
He added: “At the moment City have had a fantastic season. They have had three or four of them now and we know the challenge ahead of us.
“But we have to take it on. If you don’t, then you’re in the wrong place because that is what I am going for.
“The players have to really take that on with the sacrifices they have to make and the work they have to do.
“Blood, sweat and tears have to be put down because this is the best league in the world – and the most difficult.”
