NO TIME FOR WEEKNESS
United boss Ole and his team in the spotlight as they face seven days that could define their season
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER knows the significance of this week for Manchester United, hence his desire to play it down.
United will go top of the Premier League by avoiding defeat at Burnley tomorrow, a position they would occupy going to arch- rival s and champions Liverpool on Sunday.
Not since Sir Alex Ferguson signed off with the club’s last League crown in 2013 have United been so close to the top at this stage of the season, their fans excited by a potential tilt at the title after such a long wait.
Against that backdrop, Solskjaer is understandably keen to manage expectations, given the unpredictable nature of this season and the fact the League campaign has yet to reach the halfway stage.
But the United boss knows positive results in the next two games could have a profound effect on the rest of their season, just as two setbacks could see it unravel.
Solskjaer ( below) was typically reticent about how much the next two games will tell him about his s q u a d ’s m e n t a l i t y a n d t i t l e aspirations.
He said: “It’s great that our fans are excited, they’re happy with where we are at and that we have this little sense of excitement.
“But then again, we’re not even halfway through the season.
“Of course ever y game against B u r n l e y, e v e r y g a me a g a i n s t Liverpool, matters a lot anyway.
“My eyes are on Tuesday and then let’s see where we’re at after that one.
“Every game in the Premier League is a challenge.
“They ’re tests. Every game i s a different test. Watford gave us a test, Burnley is a test, Liverpool is another.
“Then you go to Fulham, which is a different test again.
“No one will remember what the League t able l ooked l i ke on 12 January 2021.
“We have good momentum. We s t a r t e d we l l a g a i n a f t e r t h e d i s a p p o i n t ment o f l o s i n g t o Manchester City and bounced back really well with a win.
“We want to build momentum again. If we can get a win on Tuesday, then when you ou win two games on the bounce nce again, you go into the he next game confident.
“Every game in the
Premier League is a chance to build more confidence.”
This tie was a means to an end for United, a chance t o giv e f r i nge players some much- needed eeded game- time and rest established players ahead of a huge week.
Scott Mctominay ’s f i fth- minute header was enough for United to overcome spirited and enterprising opponents Watford, and see the Red Devils into the next round.
Mctominay, stand- in skipper until Harry Maguire came on at half time for the injured Eric Bailly, said of
United’s line- up: squad game.
“On Tuesday, I ’m s ure t h e re wi l l b e c h a n g e s a g a i n , a t Liverpool there will be c h a n g e s a g a i n , s o everybody’s so ready for their chance.”
MAN UTD: Henderson Hende 7, Williams 7, Bailly 6 ( Maguire 46, 6), Tuanzebe 6, Telles 6, Mctominay 8, Van de Beek 8, Mata 7, Lingard 5 ( Matic 80, 6), James 5 ( Rashford 68, 6), Greenwood 6 ( Martial 69, 5) WATFORD: Bachmann 7, Navarro 6,
Troost- Ekong 6 ( Wilmot 76, 6), Sierralta 6, Masina 5 ( Ngakia 58, 6), Sarr 7 ( Sema 58, 7), Chalobah 6 ( Phillips 83), Hughes 7, Zinckernagel 6 ( Hungbo 76, 6), Pedro 6, Gray 6
MOTM
“It’s a
DONNY VAN DE BEEK ( MAN UTD)