Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was delighted with how Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's testimonial panned out yesterday.

Victory over Espanyol helped United fans celebrate Solskjaer's playing career - 12 years since the Norwegian arrived from Molde for a bargain £1.5million, a piece of transfer business Ferguson regards among his most astute.

"I could probably bring Ole on for the last 10 minutes even now and he wouldn't let us down," said Ferguson.

"It was a very emotional day for him and fully deserved."

Solskjaer admitted he had a tear in his eye as he warmed up in front of a near 70,000 crowd.

However, when he was introduced midway through the second half all he wanted to was score, which he would have managed but for two superb saves from Espanyol keeper Cristian Alvarez.

"I would like to have scored but unfortunately it wasn't to be," said Solskjaer, who will now concentrate on his coaching career after being put in charge of the reserves by Ferguson.

And Solskjaer admitted after spending so long under the Scot, plenty of his influence has rubbed off.

"The manager has been fantastic with me," he said.

"I have had many highs and lows and I can't think him enough for the way he stuck by me.

"He is the best. And if I cannot learn from him I won't learn from anyone."