Pique reveals Solskjaer helped him adapt to life at Manchester United

Gerard Pique says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was a "great team-mate" during their time together at Manchester United.

The duo played together under Sir Alex Ferguson for three years, until Solskjaer ended his playing career in 2007.

Pique moved to United from Barcelona in 2004 when he was just 17, and he says Solskjaer, as one of the older players in the dressing room, helped him adapt to life in Manchester.

He said: "I remember Ole as a great team-mate. When I arrived here I was 17, very young, and he was one of the oldest. He helped me a lot to adapt to the club, to the country, to the city.

"I remember he was at the end of his career and he had some problems with his injuries, but when you were training with him, you could see that he had that quality to score goals.

"It was a great experience playing alongside him. I'm very happy to see him now in charge of Manchester United.

"He's done a great job since he took charge. They have won a lot of games and they are playing much better."

Pique left United in 2008 to move back to Barca, but is now preparing to face his former club at Old Trafford for the first time as the two sides face off in the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday.

He said: "I think Manchester United, since I was here, they've always been the biggest team in England. They've always been the team that wins the most amount of leagues.

"All the big sides go through good times and bad times, and there are periods of transition. The period of Sir Alex Ferguson was the best one, but they will continue to be a big side.

"During this period maybe they've not found that special ingredient to bring it back. But let's see - I hope they can change it around."