Man Utd boss Solskjaer seeks to defuse Roma fans' anger

Solskjaer comments after quarter-final triumph against Granada have angered some Giallorossi fans.

LONDON (AFP) - Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on Wednesday tried to placate angry fans of Europa League semi-final opponents Roma, who have accused the Manchester United boss of disrespecting their club.

Comments made by Solskjaer after the quarter-final triumph against Granada have angered some Giallorossi supporters, who have put up posters of the Norwegian near the Serie A club s training ground alongside the quote: "I don t know them and I haven t seen them play".

The fans have added the caption "Make sure he remembers us!"

Solskjaer, who is seeking to win his first trophy as United boss, told his pre-match press conference that the remark should be put in context.

"That was straight after the game and with all the games we ve had I was just relieved that we d gone through," he said.

"Of course I ve watched them but I hadn t analysed and hadn t seen them in depth to give them enough respect probably with analysis.

"I could ve said, which I truly mean,  it s a fantastic club with a great history ."

Solskjaer said he even owned two treasured shirts worn by Roma greats.

"I ve actually got two prized possessions back home -- a (Francesco) Totti shirt and a (Daniele) De Rossi shirt that I ve swapped with them, actually signed," he said.

"I know about the history, I know about the quality."

"It was not meant as any disrespect and I think everyone knows that. I ve got loads of respect for them," he added.

Solskjaer said forward Marcus Rashford should be fully fit for Thursday s first leg at Old Trafford.

United suffered semi-final heartbreak three times last season -- in the League Cup, FA Cup and Europa League -- and again this term in the League Cup.

"It will be a dream come true the day I can lift a trophy for this club as a manager, of course," said Solskjaer, who won multiple trophies as a player at Old Trafford.

"That s what we re building for. We ve been close, we re building step by step.... But for this team and myself, our ambition this season is to finish with lifting a trophy and being able to celebrate."