Manchester misery
Ole could be waving goodbye to United job while title is slipping away from Pep’s City
OLE Gunnar Solskjaer and his goalkeeper David de Gea apologised to Manchester United’s supporters after yet another abysmal performance in yesterday’s 1-0 Premier League defeat by Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
The defeat means United’s worst start to a season in 30 years continues and Solskjaer is now without a win in 11 matches away from home.
Solskjaer admitted that United now face an uphill struggle to finish in the top four and qualify for next season’s Champions League, even suggesting a top-six finish will be difficult.
He insisted he and his squad “will get there in the end”. But he may not have the luxury of time and patience at board and supporter level with Liverpool up next in the league after the international break and the likelihood of Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino coming onto the job market.
Manchester City are suffering a different kind of woe with coach Pep Guardiola conceding his side have a lot of points to make up after falling eight behind Premier League leaders Liverpool with a surprise 2-0 home loss to Wolves.
A goal by 19-year-old Matty Longstaff on his Premier League debut lifted Newcastle out of the relegation zone and left United only two points clear of the bottom three.
“We’re unhappy with the results and the results bring out the mood of everyone,” Solskjaer said. “I’ve got to say sorry to the fans that we’re not winning games.
“That’s down to a rebuild and this is not a similar situation to when I was sat here after Everton last year, when I felt people had given up and they don’t give what they have for the shirt.
“These boys give everything they’ve got for the shirt. We’ll get there in the end. We have given ourselves a very, very tough task to get into the top four, never mind top six, and we need to get results straight away.
“We need to get on a run, get momentum and give you what’s acceptable.
“Every game should be one we look to win at this club but we can’t win games, especially away from home.
“We’ve got the perfect opportunity to get players back and raise the supporters’ moods against Liverpool.”
Newcastle boss Steve Bruce gained his first managerial win over his old club.
Bruce said: “It’s quite ironic. Matty Longstaff’s beaten them in his first game and I’ve been going 20-odd years. I’m delighted for everyone concerned, and of course the response was the great thing.
“He blasted one in here against St-Etienne (in pre-season) in exactly the same position, and we’ve seen him do it in training. ‘Surely not’, was the call, but he smashed it in the net. It was great.
“He trains every day with a big, beaming smile on his face, he’s refreshing, wants to play, he’s a great kid and I’m delighted.
“Typical of him, the first thing he said to me coming off was, ‘Thank you’. It’s ridiculous after what he’s just done.”