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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says his determination to "disprove critics" has helped him bounce back from his Cardiff City nightmare, but admits he never thought he would be in the running to take over at Manchester United.

It's looking increasingly likely that the Norwegian will take over as United's next boss, after losing just three of his 19 games in caretaker charge of the club where spent 11 years as player from 1996 to 2007.

The 46-year old was a massive a cult hero with United fans as a player, and is almost universally loved since he returned as a manager— a sharp contrast to the feelings held by Cardiff fans when he took them down to the Championship in 2014.

The Bluebirds' problems back then may not have rested solely with Solskjaer, but few fans shed many tears when he departed after just nine miserable months at the helm.

Plenty of eyebrows were subsequently raised when United turned to their former striker five years later, with Solskjaer handed temporary charge following the sacking of Jose Mourinho in December.

And Solskjaer himself admits he feared his ill-fated spell in South Wales had spelled the end to any dreams of managing at the top of the Premier League.

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But in an open interview with Norwegian media outlet VG, he insisted that a return to Old Trafford was always one his wider ambitions.

“It has always been in the back of my head that this is the dream job," he said.

“Of course it is. But after what happened in Cardiff, I did not think that this would happen. But then they have obviously followed me. Ed has done a lot of background research and talked a little with those who know me, who know the club and who I have worked with. Then they took the chance.

“Then I had to be honest with myself. ‘Am I ready? Can I make a difference?’ As a supporter in all those years since moving from here, I’ve been thinking about Manchester United and what I wanted to do myself.

"And I felt this was something I could have done.”

(Image: Getty Images)

The traumatic spell in charge of the Bluebirds was never far from Solskjaer's mind either, and left him with his fair share of critics when he made his return to Premier League management.

But he insists that it only spurred him on further.

“I like to disprove critics," he added.

“I have always thought that I have to do the best I can, the best job interview I can. It’s my responsibility as manager of United that I do my best.

"It is not up to me to consider if I live up to the standard, but I feel much more at home in this building, at Old Trafford, with these players, than I have ever done.”