Solskjaer not bothered by Klopp’s criticism
OLE Gunnar Solskjaer has dismissed Jurgen Klopp’s criticism of Manchester United’s playing style and predicted his young side will rise to the challenge of frustrating the Premier League leaders once more tomorrow.
Klopp accused United of negative tactics after the 1-1 draw at Old Trafford in October, and Solskjaer said he would take his rival’s evident displeasure as a positive sign.
Solskjaer said: “I take it as a compliment that we defended so well and they’ve not really created chances against us.
“When the opposition manager is frustrated, that is a good sign our boys have done well. We’ve played them at Old Trafford twice and been closest to winning both games, so we’ve got some games to look back on that will give us some belief.”
Solskjaer will give Marcus Rashford the maximum possible opportunity to recover from the back injury he aggravated against Wolves in midweek, but the striker is unlikely to feature.
And the Norwegian insisted his young squad would be up for the challenge of becoming the first team to beat Klopp’s men in the league this season, amid renewed fears of safety issues surrounding the fixture.
Solskjaer added: “(I have) no safety fears. Of course they want to try to intimidate us as long as it’s within the boundaries. started by Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Ronnie Moran but, don’t forget, we had Kenny Dalglish and Graeme Souness too.
“The coaching staff would radiate a sense of ‘this is what we do, this is business, just take care of your jobs’.”
It is certainly the same every week now: win after win after win after win. This is what Solskjaer must disrupt.
He is the only manager to do so in the league this season, and United have still had a capacity for performing in games against Liverpool, but even that was before this Liverpool had a full sense of themselves. It was before this run of form really revved up.
It is why one of the themes of the season, one that will be especially prominent around the Champions League tie with Atletico Madrid, is how you stop Liverpool. It feels like it is growing in that way that was discussed around Barcelona in 2009-10.
Many coaches and analysts feel the solution is stopping the wing-backs so that attacking play is funnelled towards a relatively unimaginative midfield. That is easier said than done, however, and one of the huge strengths of Klopp’s entire approach is turning such responses and moves against the opposition.
It only perpetuates Liverpool’s rhythm. It only reinforces. It is why they have no need for nostalgia. United are again going to have to work out how to peg them back.
“I’ve been sat on a coach going to Anfield and whatever they shout and scream, you don’t really notice.
“You’ve got to look forward to these games. It’s a great challenge for our players to play against the league leaders. It can be an intimidating place but I’m sure it will be fine.”
Solskjaer confirmed he has handed Harry Maguire the United captaincy on a permanent basis after wing-back Ashley Young completed a permanent move to Inter Milan on a six-month contract.
Maguire has been handed the armband just six months after his £80m move from Leicester and Solskjaer said: “Everything about him tells me that he is a leader.”