MANCHESTER, England -- Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has answered Louis van Gaal's criticism of his playing style by insisting the focus for his Manchester United team is to attack.
Van Gaal, dismissed at Old Trafford in 2016, accused Solskjaer of "park the bus" tactics similar to those employed by another former boss, Jose Mourinho.
But Solskjaer, appointed as United's permanent manager on a three-year deal on Thursday, has defended his style.
"Louis van Gaal is entitled to his opinion," Solskjaer said. "Some games we've pressed really high and won the ball up there and dominated.
"He's probably talking more about the PSG game, which was a game that we had to defend really well in the circumstances and counter-attack.
"It's about where you win the ball. You want to defend to win the ball to go forward. You have to win the ball to attack and for me there's two ways.
"Can you attack quickly like we did [against Watford], why not? As long as your intention is, when you win the ball, to attack."
Both Van Gaal and Mourinho were criticised for their playing style during their tenures at Old Trafford.
Solskjaer has been praised for implementing a more attacking philosophy since taking the reins in December but the 46-year-old said he is also benefitting from working with a squad that has been shaped by his predecessors -- including Van Gaal and Mourinho.
"The foundation in any team is to play well without the ball," Solskjaer said.
"If you can do that you've got a great chance. If that's high pressure, low pressure, medium -- sometimes we have to vary that.
"Players here -- most of them - they've had Mourinho, they've had Van Gaal, they've had Moyes and Fergie so they've had a great education.
"I'm very happy and grateful I've inherited a team that's been through that. They know both sides of the game."