'I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t feel up to it': Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on managing Manchester United, facing Fulham and Amad Diallo

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's 119th and 121st Manchester United games both happen to be against Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool. The first ended 0-0 on Sunday, the second in the FA Cup will be this Sunday.

Klopp took a while to turn Liverpool into Premier League champions for the first time since 1990 – and European and world champions too, but the German is regarded as one of the best coaches in the world.

Solskjaer is not. He doesn't have Klopp’s body of work or success, but his United sit above Liverpool as the league approaches its halfway point. The Norwegian’s record is also comparable with Klopp’s when he first arrived at Anfield.

Solskjaer won 67 of his first 118 games in all competitions, Klopp 60. Solskjaer drew 24, Klopp 34. Solskjaer lost 28, Klopp 24. In those games, Manchester United scored 217 times to Liverpool's 222. United conceded 122 goals, Liverpool 130. In the Premier League alone, Solskjaer has picked up 1.868 points per game, Klopp’s record at the same stage was near identical, at 1.863. Solskjaer’s overall win percentage is 56.78%, Klopp’s 50.46%.

As he prepares to take his team to Fulham on Wednesday, Solskjaer’s side are in a position considered implausible only a month ago. Despite him consistently stating that league positions only matter on the final day of the season, criticism of him has turned into begrudging compliments that he’s making a decent fist of his job. His defence is much tighter and has kept three consecutive clean sheets, even though his front three aren’t in their best form.

It’s a job he’s enjoying, too.

"I wouldn't do it if I didn't feel up to it or feel I was giving back to the club," Solskjaer told The National. "I don't enjoy leaving players out. It's hard for big games. You have players who deserve to play and it's a difficult job to tell them they are not in a job on a Sunday afternoon and then on Monday morning that they are back in a job. Those chats before to explain why a player won't play are not easy, especially when I don't have a good reason behind it, more so because I could give them more reasons why they should be playing. But that's part of what I love about the job as well, working with human beings. That's the main job to get the best from individuals so that we can be a strong team together."

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Liverpool v Man United ratings

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Avoid defeat at an 18th-placed Fulham who have won only two of their 17 games since promotion, though the Cottagers have drawn four of their last five games, including against Liverpool, and United will go over a year without defeat in an away game.

“They’re well coached and trust their own organisation and shape,” Solskjaer said of Scott Parker’s side. “They’re one of the hardest teams to break down, they’re well structured on and off the ball. They also have players who are defensively very quick and strong, but also individually going forward they have players who can make a difference.”

Solskjaer expects a tight league but points out: “Only Tottenham from the teams around us have beaten us. We’ve not conceded to Chelsea, Man City or Liverpool, which is a strength to have. If you keep on winning the games, as we have done lately, we have a good chance of staying competitive towards the end.”

A year ago, there was intense pressure around who United would bring in during the January transfer window. Not now, though there may be departures.

“We can probably allow one or two to go out but one of the strengths we have is a deep squad. We don't want to give our advantage away by changing that.”

Amad Diallo, 18, is the one player who did arrive in January, from Serie A side Atalanta, where he’d impressed in their youth teams.

“Very good, he can handle the ball, he enjoys training and makes a difference in training,” said Solskjaer of his new arrival. “That’s quite remarkable at his age. There is some adjustment to settle into the hustle and bustle and physical part of the Premier League, but I can’t see it being too long before he’s in the squad. He’s settled down well, the players have taken to him and he’s a good character, a polite and smiley boy who works hard.”

Wednesday’s 120th game is against Fulham and Solskjaer has his sights firmly fixed on three points from that, avoiding speculation about the upcoming cup fixture until that is over.