No excuses if we fail to take next step: Solskjaer

OLE Gunnar Solskjaer says Manchester United have “no excuses” heading into tonight’s Carabao Cup clash against Manchester City as they look to reach a cup final at the fourth time of asking.

Having lost to Pep Guardiola’s men in the final four of the competition last season, the Red Devils went on to lose at the semi-final stage of the FA Cup and Europa League.

But Solskjaer is confident of taking that important next step when leading in-form United into a fourth successive cup semi-final against rivals City at an empty Old Trafford.

“The next game is always important but of course a semi-final is a chance to get to the final, to get your hands on a trophy in the next round and for this team it would be a very, very big step getting your hands on a trophy,” the United manager said.

“We’ve developed a lot in the last six months, last 12 months since the last semi in the Carabao Cup so of course it’s not just learning to win semis.

“We’ve also earned the right to feel we can go all the way with our performances.

“We are confident, we are going into the game with good form so there’s no excuses.”

Solskjaer won medals aplenty during his playing days at Old Trafford but has yet to pick up silverware since taking over as manager in December 2018.

“Of course, you play football to win,” said Solskjaer, whose side are level on points in the Premier League with leaders Liverpool. “You play football to win trophies, to get your hands on a trophy — even though when you win that trophy you move on to the next one.

“But it gives you hunger to get more, so of course the squad is focused, we’re ready to give it a go. I think we’ve prepared well for this game.”

‘We’ve earned right to feel we can go all the way’