THIRST OF MANY

Ole: First trophy for our kids would restore winning mentality

OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER says lifting the EFL Cup would restore Manchester United’s winning mentality.

Solskjaer is conscious that only a handful of players remain from United’s last Premier League title success in 2013.

But he remembers what a boost it was for Patrice Evra and Nemanja Vidic (celebrating with Cristiano Ronaldo, right) when they won the 2006 League Cup final to lift their first trophy with United and begin Sir Alex Ferguson’s last glory run.

And he believes that winning the competition again this season could be just as important for his young side ahead of tonight’s quarter-final against giantkillers Colchester.

“It’s massive for a player, the first trophy he wins, no matter which one it is,” said the United boss. “For me, I remember when Patrice and Nemanja won their first trophy against Wigan.

“They got that winning feeling and, when you get that feeling, it’s something you want more and more of.

“In this group, we have a few players who won the championship, but there are fewer and fewer left of them, so for us it would be massive.

“Any player or any team – and for us now it’s a good team that we’re building – would benefit a lot from winning a trophy or getting to a final. Of course, winning it is major.

“Now we’ve got a chance of getting into the semis, so for us this game is a big one.” Solskjaer claims he never won the League Cup as a player with United because it was always bottom of Fergie’s list of priorities.

He is taking the competition seriously as a manager himself, though, and proved it by picking a strong team to beat Chelsea in the previous round. “We showed with the team we put out against Chelsea that we take this seriously,” said the Norwegian (right). “Even though we were in a difficult spell in the league, it was still important for us to create that momentum and belief in the players. Definitely, we’re hoping to get to the final.

“I hope and I think the team I’m going to put out is going to be a strong enough one to win a game. At home, against a League Two side, you’re big favourites and we’ve got to accept that, but we have to go out there and earn it.

“The team has got to be strong enough to create chances and hopefully score goals.”

Reaching the semi-finals would be a good way to mark Solskjaer’s first anniversary in charge at Old Trafford. He insists United are on track under him, even though they have one point fewer in the league than they did this time last year when Jose Mourinho was sacked. Solskjaer knows winning a trophy would boost his reign and he is confident United will not become Colchester’s latest Premier League scalp. “I watched the Tottenham game and started watching the Crystal Palace one,” he said.

“Colchester are a wellorganised and disciplined team that is going to make it hard for us.

“But we should be able to create enough chances and hopefully go through.”