Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gave an interview to DAZN Brasil this week. However, despite being seen as the Manchester United manager for the past few years, he spoke a lot about his playing days.
Solskjaer talked about the International Cup of 1999, which is still much remembered by Brazilians. Manchester United travelled to Yokohama to face Palmeiras, who’d just won the Copa Libertadores, and beat them 1-0.
The former striker admitted that the game wasn’t very important for an English club, but claims to be glad to have helped Roy Keane score the winner.
“I remember… as you say, we didn’t look at it as that important,” Solskjaer told DAZN Brasil’s Renato Senise.
“I think the team selection from Sir Alex shows that. But I feel… I remember my wife’s words. That ‘you wouldn’t have won 1-0 without your run’. Because I made a run towards the near post, I brought some defenders with me, and we scored the goal. I think it was Roy Keane who scored that goal. And I created that space for him.
“The manager took me off at half time. I remember that one. But I still felt I played a big part in that goal. Almost as big as in the 99 final.
“And the Palmeiras team, I remember Brazilian players, they were strong and fit. And of course they always have the quality. But we won, so… It’s strange thing. Because I know how big that is for South American teams. But for us, it was just we had to travel to Japan to play a game.”
Solskjaer also talked about his famous goal from the Champions League final in 1999. He was asked about his feelings from that day, and if that’s a recurring subject with his children.
“First of all, I was sad because my mum and dad couldn’t go to Barcelona. They had to work the next day so they couldn’t take it off.
“So I never watched the game, never watched the full game. I watched the 15 minutes I played once. Because I just wanted to see how I looked on the pitch.
“But the goal, I have to say, I think I’ve seen a million times. Because it’s all the time on the television, and I get questions about it. I think my kids are quite proud their dad scored it. But we never discuss it. Never.
“It’s just one of those things… I’m not a guy who looks back. I don’t like looking back. I always like looking forward. But I know it’s a big moment in my life and n Manchester United’s history. So it’s strange, it’s like a surreal feeling, I feel on the outside of it.”
