Solskjaer proves the power of positive thinking

Norwegian striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has attributed the power of positive thinking for his remarkable return from a career-threatening knee injury.

Solskjaer, 33, revered at Old Trafford for scoring United's winner in their dramatic 1999 Champions League final win over Bayern Munich, has re-emerged as a key part of United's squad this season after missing the best part of two years.

On Saturday he scored his fifth goal of the season at Wigan to help keep United on top of the English premier league.

"You have one or two moments where you think maybe you should look in the mirror and say 'are you fooling yourself?' Maybe you should finish," he told a news conference yesterday ahead of United's Champions League match with FC Copenhagen.

"But then you write in your diary how you feel and you think 'that's not right, being negative'. If you are going to make it you have to be positive and always try, and I don't think I ever went to bed thinking I would never make it.

"Maybe you treasure them (the goals) more now. You realise that time is ticking and you just want to make the most of everything.

"The older you get the closer you get to the finishing line. You realise that it is not going to last forever so you just enjoy every moment. I am just enjoying football."

Manager Alex Ferguson added: "What he has achieved is a great example of perseverance, determination and belief.

"When you get a long-term injury at 31 years of age you have to think it's going to be serious and two years out the game, more or less, is such a long for a player of his age.

"But he's got back there by his own will. He never doubted and now he's improving every game. He's got me five goals and he could give us 20 goals, quite easily."

Victory today would extend United's 100 per cent start to the group stages and Solskjaer believes the current side can emulate the champions of seven years ago.

"Every season you go into the competition with the hope of making it through to the final," he said.

"There are seven, eight, nine teams who could win it and I think we are one of them."