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Solskjaer on players attitude, on perception of the club and Manchester City: Press Conference
Manchester United host Manchester City on Wednesday night, following the diabolical 4-0 defeat to Everton on Sunday.
Ahead of the Manchester derby, United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has spoken out to the press.
A win would go a long way to helping United in their fight to break into next season’s Champions League. Currently, they sit just two points adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal and one point further away from Tottenham in third.
While Manchester City need the victory to book a spot at the top of the Premier League table.
Solskjaer has been asked if he’s the right man for the job: “Well I would like to say yes but it’s not down to me to say that I’m confident in my team and myself to take this challenge on, it’s a big challenge and when I came in here I said I’m gonna enjoy every single second I don’t like losing but it’s a challenge when you go through bad results, this is the way we’re gonna do it and plan ahead”
The Norwegian shared his thoughts and feelings on Sunday defeat and explains what happened.
“That’s the point how do we go forward that’s what we’ve got to focus on have to look back and reflect on what happened that was one of two really bad games since I come, that and the FA Cup game against Wolves, those are the two we were no where near standards, bounce back and look forward to two great games to come into, this is the main focus, one of the best teams in the opportunity, a local derby, we’ve got to be ready,” said the boss.
“We’ve been here now for about four months and it’s been a great four months, learning all the time, still with the same focus of thinking and planning forward, how do we get back to where Manchester United wanna be, the identity and the standards, professionalism we’ve set and games like the Everton one happens and the response has to be there, you have to try and provoke or inspire a reaction and we haven’t had time to work on the pitch because you need recovery at this stage of the season so it’s about changing mindsets and making sure heads are ready.”
Solskjaer wants to think he is the right man to make big decisions over personnel: “I would like to think so, I like all these boys I love them but I’ve got to manage for the club and I’m managing the club and the players and I’ve got to put all my effort into making sure we do what is right for the club.”
The boss has been asked, does he make a decision on certain players and their attitude.
“Of course, you learn about players and now is not the time to talk about making wholesale changes in the squad that’s been doing so great, City and Liverpool have taken more points than us in the last 18 games and that’s it, we were were we were when we came in, really gave it a go, and you can see loads of Manchester United standards, the DNA in these players, you have to get players in and some players will go out,” said Solskjaer.
United manager has spoken out on Manchester City: “That’s the best game we could ask for with players hurt as they definitely were, we had a meeting after the game and all the players were definitely disappointed but really really hurt by that performance and City game is the perfect one, there’s no hiding place on the pitch and the fans will back you if you give that effort against a City side that’s been very very good, we have got to turn up. We gotta be ready for the press, for their pressing so we gotta defend well, gotta be ready for your aggression, they will snap at your heels and ankles and kick you, they won’t allow us easy counter-attacking, there will be fouls, absolutely no doubt about it and when you watch those games they commit so many players forward.”
“We focus on Wednesday and sure we’ll get a response, you don’t punish them as in run up to the mountains and back, we believe in them, these players know they let themselves down as individual, as a team, me as well, I’m in charge and I’m the one giving instructions how we’re gonna play and it’s my duty to get them performing better than that and I’m sure we’ll get a response.”
In the end, Solskjaer described the face of the club.
“There’s always a crisis at Manchester United whenever you lose a game or two, City and Liverpool are two teams who’ve taken more points in last 18 games, that’s great, the boys have done fantastic, we don’t enjoy losing games, we’ve lost three out of the last five league games, that’s a bit too many but that’s football. You see Chelsea-Burnley, Arsenal-Palace but the way we lost at Everton that was the lowest we have been and was the worst performance,” concluded the manager.
Standings
England, Premier League