MAN UTD MANAGER HITS BACK
AT KLOPP’S DEFENSIVE CLAIMS
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hit back at Jurgen Klopp’s claim that Manchester United ‘just defend’ after their 1-1 draw with Liverpool. United ended the Premier League leaders’ perfect start but Klopp questioned the home side’s ambition after Solskjaer deployed a threeman central defence.
It took a late equaliser from Adam Lallana to salvage a point for the Merseysiders after Marcus Rashford’s first half opener, with Klopp insisting: “I’m not the person that should be frustrated by Man United’s style. It’s just a fact. They just defend, it’s okay. It’s not criticism, it’s just a fact.
“We always play against the wall. We need to do better, but it is how it is. I don’t think Man United can play like this if the other team doesn’t have the ball as much.
“We play very often against a team like this.”
But Solskjaer, who abandoned his favoured formation of 4-2-3-1, was adamant his tactical switch was designed to take all three points. “We set the team up to attack and be aggressive and create chances and we did that,” said the United manager.
“I’m disappointed on behalf of the players and the effort they put in and fans deserve more than one point. Towards the end of the game it feels worse as well.
“They put us under pressure, but they didn’t create too many chances. We soaked up pressure really well, then a lack of concentration and it’s a goal.”
Solskjaer has overseen United’s worst start since 1986 and a draw leaves his side 13th just two points above the relegation zone.
But he hopes a positive performance against the league leaders could prove the turning point of the season. “Results always reflect performances in the end,” he said. “I said it many times that we felt we haven’t got results we deserved, but we need to win games. One point is a start, but I’m still disappointed and not excited by one point. “I’m disappointed we can’t sit here and talk about a win, but of course the performance is very positive. They’re so disappointed in the dressing room, but they’ll think we played against a very good team and now kick on.”