UNITED NEEDA MARBELLA MIRACLE
It will take more than a holiday in Spain to inject life into Solskjaer’s flops
MANCHesteR United and Wolves have become so familiar to each other of late, it should be no surprise to hear they’re heading for the same holiday resort.
After a third meeting between these two clubs in the space of 29 days, Wolves leave for a warmweather training camp in marbella today and will vacate the football centre there on Friday, 24 hours before United arrive in town. they are in more need of a rest than Wolves, who looked the better team at Old trafford.
While Ole Gunnar solskjaer took pride in a third clean sheet in that trilogy, he overlooked the fact that United have scored just once themselves — a Juan mata decider in an FA Cup third-round replay last month. this was a third league blank in a row.
It will take more than a winter break in marbella to revive United and more than the signing of Bruno Fernandes to spark their attack into life.
United’s new boy made a positive impression on his debut but he wasn’t the best Portuguese midfielder on show. that accolade went to Ruben Neves, who cost Wolves significantly less than Fernandes at £15.8million.
It’s going to be a long process, as solskjaer acknowledges, and one that United fans can only hope is heading in the right direction.
While the manager talks up the character and culture he is trying to instil within the club, the real concern has to be quality. United simply don’t have enough of it.
‘I’ve been asked to do this job,’ said solskjaer. ‘I think the fans see what we’re trying to do and it had to be done. As I’ve said, it’s a rebuild. You had to tear the house down and you had to get players out that weren’t here in their minds.
‘We’ve got players here now who will go that extra yard, that culture I want to set. that’s the United culture. I know we’re not in the sir Alex Ferguson era, but the players we have, they have the right mentality and they’re good personalities.
‘that, for me, is the first tick. You don’t stay here if you don’t give everything to this team. When I came in, the squad weren’t right. Of course, we are a different squad to the championship-winning one that sir Alex had. this group of players haven’t had that experience of winning. But that will come in the next few years, definitely. that’s what we’re working for and that’s why those players are here.’
Fernandes showed enough of it to indicate that he will benefit his new club — and rightly so, considering the move from sporting Lisbon could end up costing United the thick end of £67.8m.
the 25- year- old was thrown straight into the starting line-up after one training session and wasn’t afraid to demand the ball or shoot on sight.
Fernandes also left his Portugal team-mate Joao moutinho needing treatment after one fullblooded challenge and was booked for a cynical foul on Raul Jimenez, showing another side to his game.
‘He is going to show us a lot more but it was a fantastic debut for him,’ said Diogo Dalot, who could have upstaged his compatriot had a late header not gone inches the wrong side of the post. ‘He’s going to help us build this team.’
Odion Ighalo, on the other hand, is a short-term fix after United loaned the Nigeria striker from shanghai shenhua for the season.
Ighalo has flown in from China and will take some of the burden off a flagging Anthony martial.
‘He’s been asked to play too much,’ admitted solskjaer. ‘I know he’s tired but he’s never dodged a training session and he’s available for every game, so I’m delighted with the boy.’
United fans ignored calls for a mass walkout in protest over the running of the club. ‘there’s only one ed Woodward,’ sang the Wolves supporters mischievously
in the absence of United’s under- fire executive vicechairman. They have every right to be satisfied as their team remain level on points with United.