Solskjaer hoping more players sign new contracts
OLE Gunnar Solskjaer is hopeful United will make more contract announcements in the coming weeks following the recent flurry of renewals.
Chris Smalling, Scott McTominay, Anthony Martial, Phil Jones and Ashley Young have all inked new terms in the last two months and Ander Herrera’s camp are optimistic the midfielder will stay at United beyond the current campaign.
Although Solskjaer has downplayed his involvement in negotiations, he intimated that he is having a say on United’s future planning with certain current squad members.
“I believe in these players,” Solskjaer said in the programme notes ahead of the Champions League tie with Paris SaintGermain. “That’s why we’ve given out some new contracts recently and I hope we have some more signed in the near future.
“On the whole, this is a young squad and they’ve got plenty of development left in them before they peak, but right now the boys are showing everybody what they’re all about. These are really exciting times.”
United are in talks with Herrera’s, Juan Mata’s and David de Gea’s representatives. Herrera and Mata are out of contract in the summer while De Gea is tied to United until 2020.
Solskjaer is pleased with the quality of the United squad depth, and was particularly impressed with Smalling’s return from a foot injury at Fulham.
Solskjaer added: “It’s always nice for the boys to remind you that you can trust whoever you select in the end.
“Chris Smalling, for example, hadn’t played for two months but he didn’t put a foot wrong on Saturday. He was fantastic.” OLE Gunnar Solskjaer felt Presnel Kimpembe should have been sent off during Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League win over United.
Kimpembe was booked in the firsthalf for a cynical foul on Marcus Rashford and, with the game goalless early in the second-half, appeared to pull the United forward back inside his own half but referee Daniele Orsato did not give a foul.
French defender Kimpembe went on to score PSG’s first as they secured a 2-0 win ahead of the second leg at the Parc des Princes in three weeks’ time. Solskjaer accepted United were not at the Ligue 1 champions’ level but was bemused that Rashford did not even earn a free-kick in the second-half.
“Yeah, very,” Solskjaer said when asked if Kimpembe was fortunate to stay on the pitch. “And the way he throws Rashford down to the floor and we don’t even get a foul. You react to those little things, there’s no point me sitting here talking about that now, that’s gone.
“Disappointed we won’t have Paul next round, he was our best player, he had three players around him all the time, and he was still out on top.
“So that’s a big blow because he’s been fantastic for us.
“Today we weren’t at their level,” Solskjaer added. “This is a level up from what we’ve played against, the games we’ve had. We had a great run.
“We came into the game in a great frame of mind and great form but of course it was a big step up.
“They have quality from the ‘keeper to the striker. There is a reason why they are favourites for the Champions League. That’s the level we need to aim for.”