MARATHON MEN
UNITED RUN MORE... NOW A TITLE RACE?
MANCHESTER United’s ability to go the distance has already left its mark on Leicester City, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is still demanding more from his players.
It has been five months since United went to the King Power Stadium on the last day of the Premier League season and won 2-0 to clinch third place and Champions League qualification while consigning Leicester to the Europa League.
United return today with the two clubs in familiar territory, sitting in second and third behind leaders Liverpool.
Solskjaer’s side seem to be coming into form after a patchy start to the season and are unbeaten in domestic competition since the beginning of last month.
They are also going the extra mile for their manager who made improving fitness levels one of his top priorities after taking over from Jose Mourinho two years ago.
United almost matched Leeds’ running stats — the benchmark for any Premier League team — in the process of putting six goals past their old rivals at Old Trafford on Sunday.
And they were still going strong enough at the end of their Carabao Cup quarter-final at Everton on Wednesday night to score two late goals through Edinson Cavani and Anthony Martial.
‘We are getting better and better,’ said Solskjaer. ‘These boys know what I want from my team and certain games give you a chance to run in a different way.
‘They are all different. The Leeds game was a very open game, end to end and loads of running, but that just showed we do have the capability if it is required.’
Martial is one player who has taken a while to get going after finishing as United’s top scorer last season with 23 goals.
‘Anthony has made some important contributions lately — assists, scoring goals and he is getting fitter,’ added Solskjaer.
‘His running stats from the Leeds game put a new standard for him which I want to see more of. He knows I am on to him about this.
‘Anthony is going to get better and when we get Mason (Greenwood), Marcus (Rashford) and Anthony firing on all cylinders as well we will be more of a threat to teams.’
United are being talked about as genuine title contenders, but Solskjaer is refusing to get carried away by it all.
‘There is noise around Manchester United anyway,’ he said. ‘For us, it is about improving as a team, taking one game at a time. That is the only way you are going to challenge for something at the end of a season.’