Ole willl not lose the faith
SOLSKJAER EYES UNBEATEN FINISH POTTER OUT TO EXTEND HOME RUN
MANCHESTER UNITED boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has challenged his side to remain unbeaten for the rest of the season.
United are on a 14-game unbeaten run in their pursuit of a top-four place and glory in the FA Cup and Europa League.
But while Solskajer is convinced his players can stay undefeated, he has warned them against getting ahead of themselves.
Solskjaer, whose side travel to Brighton tonight, said: “Any Manchester United team should go into any game against any opposition believing they can win that game.
“So the short answer [to whether United can
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GRAHAM POTTER wants to maintain Brighton’s stranglehold on Manchester United at the Amex – even if he fears home advantage has gone.
United have lost both of their Premier League away games against the Seagulls.
And Potter is out to make it third time lucky tonight.
Brighton were the most vocal of the 20 clubs to make sure games were played in their own stadium but their boss says Project Restart has removed home advantage.
Potter said: “I suppose there are bogey grounds, and
I’m happy if the Amex
■ go unbeaten the rest of the season] is, ‘Yes’, but the long answer is that there’s more to it than that.
“Of course, different things can play a part in this run, but we hope to extend it and want it for as long as possible.
“We’re just going to take one game at a time. We know there’s games every two or three days.
“We need a squad, everyone needs to play a part and we’re delighted with the way things are going at the moment.”
United have a favourable fixture list facing Brighton, Bournemouth, Aston Villa, Southampton, Crystal Palace and West Ham with a trip to Leicester on the final day.
But Solskjaer dismissed any notion of an ‘easy’ run-in and said: “There’s different times when it might be easier to meet teams.
“But we have loads of games against teams who have lots to play for which is, of course, not an easy run-in.
“So I would never ever say it’s an easy game in the Premier League, absolutely no chance.
“For us, we have to win the next game, so we can go into the next one more confident.
“But we also need to push on, because complacency, that kicks you somewhere you don’t want to get kicked in football. “We’ve lost the last two to Brighton when we’ve gone down there. We’ve got Bournemouth, who we’ve lost to.
“We’ve got Aston Villa, who we drew with at home. We’ve got Palace, who we lost to at home. “We’ve got West Ham, who we’ve lost to, and we’ve got Leicester, a very good team. Every game is one where we have a point to prove.” is a bogey ground for Manchester United, but we can’t rely on that.
“We have to make sure our players are ready for the game, to fight and run and to play to their maximum.
“We played them earlier in the season, they were better than us and we got away with a 3-1 defeat. “We know if we’re not 100 per cent, it’s going to be difficult for us. History is fine but let’s focus on the present. “My own view is that home advantage is less because of the crowd. The crowd not being here is the main thing and that would have been nice for us, especially against the top teams.
“The fans can come and realise you are the underdog and forgive you a few things because you are playing against the top teams.
“I think most teams would have wanted to play at their home grounds from a logistics perspective and an organisation perspective.”
Brighton are the only one of the struggling clubs who have shown signs of life since the restart as they beat Arsenal, drew at Leicester and are now potentially just two results from safety.
But Potter said: “If you’re winning matches then things become a little bit easier. But we need to carry on.”
MAURICIO POCHETTINO sent Tottenham fans wild yesterday by posing in an official club T-shirt.
The popular Argentine, 48, was sacked last November by chairman Daniel Levy but has since kept the door open to a return in the future.
Pochettino was pictured yesterday behind his son Maurizio, 19, who has signed a new deal with Spurs with his current contract up today.
Spurs are delighted with the progress of the winger who could yet become part of Jose Mourinho’s first team plans next season.
P W
(C) Liverpool ..... 31 28
Man City ........... 31 20 Leicester ........... 31 16 Chelsea ............. 31 16 Wolves .............. 32 13 Man Utd ............ 31 13 Tottenham ........ 31 12 Burnley ............. 32 13 Sheff Utd ........... 31 11 Arsenal .............. 31 10 Crystal Palace..32 11 Everton ............. 31 11 Southampton ...32 12 Newcastle ......... 31 10 Brighton ............ 31 7
Watford ............. 32 6
West Ham ......... 31 7 Bournemouth ... 31 7 Aston Villa ........ 32 7 Norwich ............ 31 5 Sky Bet League Two
play-off final
Exeter (0) ............... 0 Northampton (2) ...... 4
GOLF USPGA Tour – Championship
final
totals 261 263 264
267
Travelers leading 262 265
Sky Bet Championship Barnsley v Blackburn (6pm) .......................... Cardiff v Charlton (6pm) ................................ Leeds v Luton (7.45pm) ................................. Millwall v Swansea (5pm) .............................. QPR v Fulham (6.30pm) ................................. Reading v Brentford (6pm) ............................ Wigan v Stoke (7.45pm) ................................
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