Ole ready for return of Alexis
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER believes Manchester United’s more expansive style will unlock the extensive talents of Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean forward, who is set to return to the squad at Newcastle tomorrow, has endured a miserable spell at Old Trafford. He has scored just four goals since a move from Arsenal last January and has cut a disconsolate figure this season. Solskjaer revealed last night the 30-year-old was desperate to play in Sunday’s win over Bournemouth after recovering from a hamstring injury following a month out. United’s interim boss reckons Sanchez can have a significant impact on his in-form team, even though
they have scored 12 goals in three games.
‘I think he’s player that would benefit from the interchanging, the rotation, the movement,’ said Solskjaer.
‘The more chances you create, the more times you get the ball into the final third, he’ll be an asset for us.
‘He’s looking forward to it. It certainly looked like it in Saturday’s session. He scored quite a few nice goals, so that was encouraging.
‘He’s had some great sessions the last few days. He wanted to be with us for Bournemouth but we have to manage him. He’s been out for a month, but he’ll be involved.
‘He wants to play all the time, he’s one of those characters. It was a few days too early for him. He’s not had enough fitness or whatever, but he’s champing at the bit.’
Former boss Alex Ferguson was at the club’s Carrington training ground on Saturday as Sanchez continued sharpening up.
Solskjaer chatted with Ferguson and received backing from his old manager following a sterling start to his caretaker tenure over the festive period.
‘He enjoyed his time at the training ground. We had a nice few chats, me and the staff, and he encouraged us,’ added Solskjaer. ‘He knows we’re going to do whatever we can, up to the last second we’re here, for Manchester United.
‘Obviously, he’s influenced me more in those last 15 years than he’s done last week, but I keep him informed.’
Solskjaer has made a dream start to his United reign and has already achieved something his predecessor Jose Mourinho never did.
Since the sacking of Mourinho, the Red Devils have scored 12 goals in wins over Cardiff, Huddersfield and Bournemouth — more than they ever managed in a threegame Premier League stretch under Mourinho. In his two-and-a-half seasons in charge, the Portuguese never saw his side score more than 10 in three league games. Another indication of United’s improvement is the form of Paul Pogba, whose relationship with Mourinho regularly came under scrutiny. The France star scored twice in both the 3-1 win over Huddersfield and the 4-1 success against Bournemouth. Those two games have therefore brought him more goals than his 14 appearances under Mourinho this season.