OLE READY FOR UNITED RETURN

City boss looks ahead to Old Trafford clash

Cardiff City manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær is ready for an emotional return to Old Trafford on Tuesday night, as the Bluebirds make their first visit to Manchester United in 39 years.

Solskjær enjoyed a fourteen year spell with the Manchester club as a player and then coach, winning six Premier League titles, a Champions League and numerous domestic honours in his time with the club and is now set to return as a manager for the very first time on Tuesday evening.

But, fully focused on the task in hand and eager to see his side bring points back to South Wales, the City boss said: “We’ll go there and put a performance that we can be proud of and come back with no regrets.

“It’s a great place to go and play football, so of course we’re really looking forward to it. When you’re a young kid dreaming of making it at the top level, I’m sure they would’ve dreamt about playing at Old Trafford.

“For us we’ll just go out there and give it a go. We’ll play with a lot of energy and enthusiasm and enjoy the game.”

The Bluebirds go into the game buoyed by a FA Cup fourth round victory in the North West on the weekend as a Fraizer Campbell goal secured City’s progress to the fifth round and a tie against Wigan Athletic.

Now the City manager wants to see his side transfer their cup form into some valuable Premier League points, saying: “We want to take our FA Cup form into the league games now. The position we’re in is not the best, but then again it’s just six points up to tenth position. I’m not concerned about the performances.

“All I look for from the lads is for them to give it their all and come back from places like this knowing that we’ve given it out best go. We came back from Manchester City with pride and that’s what I’m looking for once again.”

City could well face United’s new record signing Juan Mata at Old Trafford on Tuesday night with front men Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie also pushing for a return to the starting-11 after spells out through injury.

But despite the possible return of many of United’s star players, Solskjær insists that it’s a challenge his side will relish.

“You want to play against the best players in the world,” said the City boss. “My players are looking forward to playing against them – it’s the only way that you improve as a player.

“We’ve just got to go there give our all and use the experience of playing against such teams and take it for further down the line. We’ve got nothing to lose.”