Solskjaer believes sunshine break and the £47M signing of Fernandes will put spring in step of recharged Reds squad
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER reckons Manchester United’s sunshine break was the perfect boost ahead of their push for the final Champions League place.
They spent a week in Marbella, at a warm-weather training camp, ahead of tonight’s huge Premier League visit to Chelsea. Boss Solskjaer reckons that was just what his players needed following a gruelling period of 19 fixtures in two months – an average of a game every three days.
He allowed them time off with their families in the first week of their mid-season break, then took his squad to Spain to recharge their batteries.
“You just need a change of scenery,” said Solskjaer. “I wouldn’t say they get sick of each other but, as a team, you know you’re going to stay together for 10-and-a-half months a season.
“So maybe it’s nice to have time with your kids or with your wife, instead of your team-mates you’ve been tackling all day.
“The freshness in their heads, their mentality, the smile, they were glad to see each other again. They’d been living together in a hotel for two months, more or less. So it’s been very beneficial.
“It was more about getting the group together again and giving them that first week to refresh, and now we regroup and start the fitness work.
“It was the first training week we’ve had together for five months. And that’s quite a long time to work on things and nail the details. “There were a couple of things we weren’t happy about that we had to sort.”
Unlike Chelsea, who were unable to add to their squad last month, United paid Sporting Lisbon £47million for midfielder Bruno Fernandes and recruited striker Odion Ighalo on loan.
“I’m very happy with the two guys we brought in,” said Solskjaer (left). “To finally have got Bruno over the line, to have signed him after following him for so long, and just seeing what he can give us and what he will give us, has been great.
“It will be great to integrate Odion as well.”
The deadline-day signing of Ighalo from Shanghai Shenhua until the end of the season was seen by some as a desperate move and proof of a lack of long-term planning.
But Solskjaer said: “Don’t go down that route. He’s a loan player we’re very happy having here. Hopefully he’ll prove to you what I think he will. He’s a proven goalscorer, so he’ll do all right.
“It’s a loan, but when you’re in the door, and if you impress, it gives you a chance. That’s exactly the same for everyone who signs.”