Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hits back with warning to Robin van Persie

‘He probably doesn’t have a right to criticise my management style’

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has hit back at Robin van Persie after the former Manchester United striker criticised his reaction to defeat at Arsenal.

United made a disappointing start to the new year with an underwhelming performance and disappointing 2-0 reverse at the Emirates on Wednesday night.

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.”

Solskjaer took a dim view of Van Persie’s comments and, ahead of United’s FA Cup third round trip to Wolves on Saturday, went on the offensive.

“I don’t know Robin and Robin doesn’t know me,” Solskjaer said. “He probably doesn’t have a right to criticise my management style and I won’t change. That’s definite.”

Van Persie and Solskjaer’s paths never crossed at Old Trafford, with the Norwegian departing from 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.

Van Persie criticised Solskjaer's reaction to Arsenal defeat (Getty)

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 said, adding: “I’m not in medieval times.”

Solskjaer is far from the first United manager to become embroiled in a spat with ex-players in the media.

The Norwegian’s predecessor Jose Mourinho enjoyed a testy relationship with members of the Class of ‘92, particularly Paul Scholes.

“I think the only thing Paul Scholes does is criticise,” Mourinho said in 2018. “I don’t think he comments, I think he criticises, which is a different thing.

“Not every one of us has to be phenomenal like he was as a player. That does not mean we all have to be phenomenal.”