Ole: the squad depth will help us towards the end of season
OLE Gunnar Solskjaer says players cannot “fake” their way into the Manchester United side as “you only deserve to be in a team that you contribute to”.
A challenging year that started with fan discontent about the direction of the club ended with the Old Trafford giants sat second in the Premier League, just three points behind leaders Liverpool, having played a game less.
United have won seven of their last nine top-flight matches and talk of a title challenge is increasing due to the clear improvements in mentality and squad depth.
Solskjaer has so far been coy on talk about a push for the Premier League crown but was more forthcoming when it came to the great strides taken in his two years in the dugout.
Asked if he senses something has changed in the players and that they are stronger mentally as individuals, the United boss said: “Yeah, definitely.
“One, they’re two years older than when I came. Two, some of them are really strong personalities that we’ve brought in, they’ve really been a good influence.
“And I think we have competition for places, which means you cannot go around and think that you can just fake your way to being part of this team because you only deserve to be in a team that you contributed (to).
“I think everyone’s just realised that we’re privileged to be part of Man United, such a fantastic club with a fantastic history.
“When you’re here, enjoy it as much as you can and maybe you’ll experience some fantastic times.
“You’ve got winners like Juan Mata and Nemanja Matic. They don’t play every single game but they’re so influential in the group and in the build-up to games and during games when they’re not playing.”
Solskjaer made six changes for the last-gasp 1-0 win against Wolves on Tuesday, when Luke Shaw, Anthony Martial and Scott Mctominay came off a bench that included the likes of Mata, Fred and Donny van de Beek.
“We have a strong squad, we’ve rotated a lot,” the Norwegian said.
“We’ve not really called it a settled XI because I don’t think this season is going to be about that anyway. It’s going to be about the squad. It’s going to be about the 25, 26 players. I think towards the end of the season that will help us.
Meanwhile, striker Edinson Cavani has been handed a threematch ban by the Football Association for using a racial term.
The 33-year-old summer signing produced a match-winning display at Southampton on November 28, providing an assist for Bruno Fernandes before netting a brace in a 3-2 comeback win.
Cavani posted a social media message on Instagram shortly after the match, replying to a message of congratulations using the Spanish term ‘negrito’, which translates as ‘black’.
The Uruguayan swiftly deleted the post and released an apologetic statement the following day saying he was “completely opposed to racism”.
But the FA charged the striker with “misconduct for a breach of FA Rule E3” in relation to his social media post on December 19 and has now banned him.
The FA said in a statement: “Edinson Cavani has been suspended for three games, fined £100,000 and must complete face-to-face education after admitting a charge for a breach of FA Rule E3 in relation to a social media post.”