Happy Ighalo is loving life
ODION IGHALO feels he has become Manchester United’s smiling assassin.
The Nigeria striker has scored five goals in 12 appearances since joining on loan from Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua.
Speaking to United’s matchday programme, United Review, Ighalo (right) said: “We have good lads who are ready to give everything.
“It’s a privilege for me to join them, to play with this squad – the young ones, the mature ones. The atmosphere is great.
“People are happy coming to work.
“Me? I’m a happy guy. I’m always sharing with everyone – who is playing, who is not playing, who is down.”
Ighalo knows his starts will be limited due to the form of Marcus Rashford
United are on a 15-game unbeaten run and are chasing a top-four spot, the FA Cup and Europa League.
Boss Solskjaer has overhauled his squad, shifting the focus from signing star names in favour of home-grown talent and players fully committed to taking the club back to the top. After the disastrous arrivals of stars like Angel Di Maria, Radamel Falcao, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Alexis Sanchez, Solskjaer’s recruited younger and more dynamic players.
Harry Maguire, Aaron Wanbissaka and Bruno Fernandes have proved shrewd buys, while Solskjaer has rejuvenated those who had lost their way.
He has also put his young talents like Greenwood.
Former United defender David May, a Champions League winner, reckons that Solskjaer’s approach had been vindicated. “He’s not going out buying superstars like Di Maria or Falcao who think that they’re something special,” said May. “He is getting in players who fit the Manchester United way, and Bruno is that way. “When those players come into the and Anthony Martial but believes he can offer something.
He added: “Martial is very skilful. He likes to play with the ball at his feet.
“Rashy likes to run in behind.
“I can play with my back to goal, I can keep the ball.” faith in Mason
“But in that time they’ve scored or created eight goals and conceded none, which is incredible.
“You want to see that – and it’s only going to get better.”
May, speaking in an MUTV group chat, was backed by former team-mate Wes Brown, who hailed the 3-0 win at Brighton as conclusive proof Solskjaer has United heading in the right direction.
Brown said: “I was just smiling the whole way through.
“You could see things the lads were trying were coming off, we were scoring goals and it’s exactly what we needed at the moment.”
Brown reserved special praise for £46.6m signing Fernandes, who scored twice at Brighton, taking his tally to six goals and four assists since his arrival from Sporting Lisbon in January.
“He gets the whole playing,” said Brown.
“Everything’s a lot quicker. Sometimes you just need that extra piece to get everything together and, for me, he is definitely the one.
“He was captain at his last club and the way he’s gone about his business here, he’s definitely got the potential to be captain at Old Trafford in the future as well.” team