Ole prepared for big games with warm weather trip

OLE Gunnar Solskjaer insists United will use their warm weather training trip to prepare for three big games within the next seven weeks.

United have taken advantage of their eight-day gap between the FA Cup victory over Reading and Premier League fixture at Tottenham on January 13 by travelling to Dubai for a mid-season sunshine break. Spurs host Chelsea in their League Cup semi-final first leg on Tuesday while United have a free midweek.

United have beaten four of the bottom nine league teams and Championship strugglers Reading in Solskjaer’s first five games but Tottenham was identified as the sternest test of the Norwegian’s first month as caretaker coach.

Despite the anticipation surrounding the Spurs fixture, fuelled by the possibility that Mauricio Pochettino could become United’s next permanent manager in the summer, Solskjaer is keen to ready his players for the February fixtures against Paris Saint-Germain on the 12th and Liverpool on the 24th.

“We’ve not conceded in open play yet in either of the five games,” Solskjaer said. “But still we’ll have to stop conceding chances. We need to use this week well to work towards that game but also towards Paris Saint-Germain. We’ve got Liverpool in February.

“You just don’t make it for the Tottenham game. We prepare for when we play the bigger and better teams.

“Of course, Spurs away, Wembley, that’s a proper test. We’re looking forward to that one.” UNITED’S game against Tottenham on Sunday will be the biggest indicator of how much the team have improved under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Phil Jones believes.

Solskjaer has enjoyed a 100 per cent win rate since coming in as caretaker manager two weeks ago, following the sacking of Jose Mourinho, beating Cardiff, Huddersfield, Bournemouth and Newcastle in the league and Reading in the FA Cup.

Next up, United face an in-form Spurs side at Wembley.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side have only lost twice at home in the league this season, against Liverpool and City, and Jones believes the game will be a true test of how United have improved in the last few weeks. Paul Pogba is nursing an injury picked up against Newcastle while Alexis Sanchez, right, left the pitch early in the FA Cup win. Both are expected to be fit for Spurs

“Possibly Spurs will be an indicator for us and how far we can go but it is a game we need to win,” Jones said after the 2-0 win against Reading at Old Trafford.

“They are in good form and doing well and we need to have a good week, train well and prepare for a tough game.

“Hopefully the momentum can carry us on to win that match. We need to keep building that momentum whoever we play. We are feeling good and we are feeling strong. We go away and we need to work. “Spurs is a good test. We are in good form and have some momentum going. We have steadied the ship a bit if you like and we need to keep going.” United currently sit sixth in the league but have managed to cut the gap on the top four to six points and while the Champions League spots are firmly in United’s sights, Jones isn’t thinking about it. “Of course we should be in the Champions League next season and that is the aim but we have done nothing yet and I know it is a cliché but it has to be game by game,” Jones explained. “I don’t really want to think about the top four, or the Champions League or the FA Cup it has to be game by game. “Tottenham is tough and we have to see where we are after that.” Phil Jones