Samedi.....----------------->ds 38h
=>Following defeat to Liverpool in the Worthington Cup final will United be even more determined to get a victory today?
Well every time you lose a game you want to come back strongly and win the next one. It’s not a nice feeling, losing a final, but we just want to win to get the three points. We need a win to stay in the Championship race.
What lessons do you think the team can learn from that defeat?
We’ve looked at the game on video, and we’ve taken a few points from it, both good and bad. We need to quicken the tempo a lot – the first half in Cardiff was almost walking pace! That will have to be better.
You watched most of the Worthington Cup Final from the bench. How frustrating is it to be sat watching when things are going wrong?
Yes of course. You want to be on the pitch and influencing things. But the manager picks the team and you just have to try and focus throughout the game even though you’re not playing. I came on for the last fifteen minutes and had to be focussed for them, but it just wasn’t to be.
Do you shout encouragement to the other players from the bench, and what sort of things do you say?
Sometimes I do, yes. Sometimes I find myself really getting into the game, and I’m heading balls and having shots and everything! You just want to be out there helping the lads, that’s the thing.
Liverpool have a good record against United recently. What do you think have been the key factors in their success against us?
They’re a very good, well organised team. Getting the first goal is very important – if you look at the Cup Final the first goal was always going to determine how the game turned out. They had a lucky deflection on the goal – sometimes those breaks go for you, sometimes they go against you. But we beat them at Anfield so hopefully we can do that again.
You might come up against John Arne Riise today. Do you enjoy playing against club team-mates in internationals?
It’s nothing special, really. We’ll say hello before the game and maybe have a chat afterwards, but during the game you forget who he is. Friendship goes out of the window!
Do you and Riise ever discuss United and Liverpool when you´re away with Norway?
Not really, no. We don’t talk about too much domestic football when we’re with Norway. We just try and find something else to talk about!
In the recent match with Basel you made your 300th appearance for United. Are you surprised to hear you´ve played that many games?
Well this is my seventh season, and I’ve always made plenty of appearances in every season, either starting or coming off the bench. 300 games is quite an achievement – hopefully there will be quite a few more to come.
Another 300?
I’m not sure if there will be that many, but you never know!
Apart from the Champions League final of course, which games stand out in your memory in that time?
My debut was obviously a big moment for me, as was the first time we won the League after I arrived. The FA Cup Final is a special one. The FA Cup match against Liverpool in the Treble season was a good one, too. But hopefully today’s game against Liverpool will become my favourite memory. That would be great.
The recent victory in the Stadio delle Alpi must rank as a highlight. What will you always remember about that game?
It was a fantastic game. To win 3-0 away from home in the Champions League was just amazing. We’ve moved on a lot since we first met Juventus five or six years ago, and that night will be special for many years. We scored our goals at crucial times in the match, so that helps you win games.
How did the team celebrate after?
We’ve got so many big games this season – we had the Worthington Cup final just a few days afterwards – that we’ve not really been able to celebrate after individual games. We’ll have to wait until the end of the season and hopefully have something big to celebrate then.
The day after Juve was your 30th birthday, did the team get you a present?
Ha ha no! There were a couple of songs sung in my honour, but no presents I’m afraid!
Do you get annoyed or flattered when people go on about how young you look?
Not really. I’m just looking forward to when I’m 45 and everyone around me looks 45 and I only look 30!
United have suffered some inconsistencies in the league but been extremely strong in Europe. Do you alter your game depending on whether it´s Europe or the Premiership?
We try and play our game, no matter which competition it is or who we’re playing against. We’re two points off the lead in the League and it’s all in our hands. If we do our things right then we’ll have a good chance of winning. It’s important that we keep winning. We just have to focus on every game being a Cup Final from now on.
Any time is a good time to score a goal, but United and yourself in particular specialise in the late late goal like the one away to Bolton recently. Is that the most satisfying time to score, and do you always feel confident you can snatch one at the end?
If you win the game by scoring in the last minute, then it is a fantastic feeling. But scoring a couple of goals early on to win a game is great too as you can try other things for the rest of the match.
Why do you think it is that you are able to score so many late goals yourself? Is there a secret to it?
We always know we can score – it only takes one touch to score a goal. We know we can do it anytime. And when it gets late, we can keep possession of the ball and make the opposition running round we know that they will get tired and the pressure will count.
Last season you netted 25 goals, and this year you´ve got 13 so far -– do you still think you´ll be able to match last year´s total?
I don’t really think about the number of goals I’ve scored when I judge my season. I prefer to think about how I’ve helped the team. This season I’ve played wide on the left and the right, not too many upfront, and you have to adjust your game and think differently. I’m pleased with my season so far.
Is it hard to adjust?
No, not really. I’ve played on both wings for Norway before, and I think you improve as a player when you play in different positions. Hopefully I’ll get the killer instinct against Liverpool today and score a couple!
Apparently you´ve had more shots on goal than any other United player this season – does that surprise you?
You’d have to ask the others! I’m just trying to do my job and get shots in on goal. If the goalkeeper saves it, then well done to him!
How important do you think it is to be single-minded as a striker?
You have to be selfish as a striker to score goals. But as a footballer, if you see someone in a better position than you are, then you have to pass it. That’s important – it’s a team game and you never win anything on your own.
You´ve already started more matches this season then you did in the entire of 2000/01, and almost as many as last season. How much do you feel the affects of that physically?
I feel very well, physically. I don’t have a problem at all playing Wednesday, Saturday, Wednesday. I’m playing internationals as well so it’s not a problem. The more you play, the better you feel, I find.
You and your wife recently had a baby girl. Do you find it hard to be away from your family when you are travelling with the team?
Of course it’s hard, everyone finds that. But it’s my job and I enjoy my job a lot, so it’s got to be done.
