Man Utd will finish in the top four under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, says Ryan Giggs

Ryan Giggs, Kieran Richardson, Wes Brown, Sir Alex Ferguson, John O'Shea, Paul Scholes and Ole Gunnar SolskjaerImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Ryan Giggs (far left) and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (far right) played together at Manchester United from 1996 to 2007

Manchester United will finish in the top four under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, says former team-mate and Wales boss Ryan Giggs.

Solskjaer, who signed a three-year contract on Thursday, took interim charge in December, since when United have lost just one of 13 league games.

Under the Norwegian, United have also reached the Champions League quarter-finals after beating Paris St-Germain.

"I'm delighted to see he has got the job permanently," said Giggs.

"OK, the last two games haven't gone to plan, [but] if you have the momentum that the team have at the moment, that's all you want.

"It won't be easy because there are some quality teams up there but with the players they've got and the momentum, I don't see why we can't get top four."

Giggs, 45, and Solskjaer, 46, spent 11 seasons playing together at Old Trafford under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Earlier in the season, the Norwegian said he still refers to his former manager as "the gaffer" and has been in contact with him since taking charge of United to discuss ideas.

"Ole's been in close contact with the manager (Ferguson) since he took over; why wouldn't you?" Giggs told the BBC's Karthi Gnanasegaram.

"The wisdom he's got, the experience he's got, it's a great shoulder to lean on.

"Ole's his own person as well, he will want to do it his way."

Since their playing days, both Giggs and Solskjaer have spent time as interim manager at Old Trafford and the current Wales boss believes former United players could be better suited to the role due to their understanding of the club.

"Solskjaer is someone who has played for the club, coached at the club too, and recognises what a Manchester United player looks like.

"People from the outside may be a little bit sceptical about that, but when you have played at the club and experienced the way the fans want you to play, I think you understand more than someone coming from the outside."

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