Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Man Utd have not cracked it – Solskjaer not getting carried away by title tilt

SoccerNews in General Soccer News 1 Jan 2021

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists his Manchester United players are not getting carried away by the prospect of a Premier League title challenge this season. 

Marcus Rashford’s stoppage-time winner against Wolves on Tuesday stretched their unbeaten run to nine league games and cranked the pressure up on leaders Liverpool. 

The Red Devils are now just three points behind Jurgen Klopp’s side and have a game in hand. 

It marks an impressive transformation in the club’s fortunes after a dismal start to the season, which saw them collect just seven points from their opening six games. 

There were three home defeats in that run, including a humiliating 6-1 reverse to Tottenham. 

The 13-time Premier League champions have been a team reborn in recent months, though, and face Aston Villa on Friday knowing they can go level on points with Liverpool ahead of the Reds’ clash against Southampton on Monday. 

While Solskjaer is delighted with how his side have improved, he says the hard work has only just started. 

“Well, we had a difficult start to the season with the late arrival of some players,” he told the club’s official website. “And I think we have shown after the second international break, the one in October, that we have regrouped and come together.

“We are getting fitter, stronger and the squad is getting better. We just have to take one game at a time, move up the table and improve as a team. 

“But we have finished the year strong. I think we have done well since the beginning of February, or end of January, and we have proven to ourselves that we can be consistent over a longer period.

“When you are getting closer [to the top of the table], that gives you a boost and it gives you extra focus. 

“The good thing about this group is that some of them have won before so they are not going to get too far ahead of themselves. 

“We know that the only way to do it is to take one game at a time.

“I know that is quite a boring statement, but that is the good thing about this group; they are not going to think we have cracked it because in any game in this league, you have got to be at it and that’s why we have a big, strong squad.”

Solskjaer acknowledges his side will have their work cut out against a Villa side who have won three of their last five Premier League games and sit just four points behind United, having played a game less.

The main threat for United will come from in-form pair Jack Grealish and Anwar El Ghazi.

Grealish – who was linked with a move to United ahead of the 2020-21 campaign – is the Premier League’s leading chance creator so far this season, with the England international having crafted 51 opportunities, including six assists.

El Ghazi, meanwhile, has scored five goals in his last five top-flight appearances, after netting just four in his first 37 in the competition.

“You can see the improvement of results and also performances, how solid they are – they have conceded one goal in their last five league games and that was against Chelsea – so they have impressed me,” Solskjaer added.

“We’ve met them in pre-season and of course we’ve kept in touch with them. I have been impressed but not surprised, because they have a squad and a team full of good players.

“I think it is a team performance, of course, but they have made some very good signings. I think Ollie Watkins is one of the centre forwards that you don’t like to play against.

“At the moment, El Ghazi is the man in form and scoring every game. I think the whole front line is going to keep you on your toes and they are going to make you defend. 

“Then they are very solid at the back and they are not going to concede goals, so we need a good performance and hopefully we will get one.”

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