Giggs: United can bounce back after PSG defeat
RYAN Giggs believes United’s upcoming games against Chelsea and Liverpool are the perfect way to respond to the Reds’ first defeat under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The Reds fell to a 2-0 home defeat against Paris SaintGermain in the Champions League on Tuesday night, with the Ligue 1 side becoming the first team in history to leave Old Trafford with a margin of victory greater than one goal in European competition.
It broke Solskjaer’s incredible record of ten games unbeaten as United’s caretaker manager, and handed the Reds a mountain to climb in the second leg in Paris on March 6.
But Giggs says an eventual defeat was inevitable, and insists Solskjaer’s side will not take much encouragement to perform in the FA Cup game at Chelsea on Monday night before the Premier League visit of Liverpool a week on Sunday.
“Manchester United have been brilliant since Ole took over but we all knew what United are, they were in a false position in the league before he took over but they’re still a few players short of challenging in the Champions League year after year,” the Wales manager told Sky Sports.
“But the signs have been promising so it’s just a case of not getting too cocky when United were winning, but not getting too downhearted after losing to PSG. They had to lose at some point!
“There are some big games coming up for the club to bounce back in; tough games against Chelsea and then Liverpool, probably the biggest game for United fans.
“But they’re good games to have after a defeat as you don’t need any help to get the players up for them.” OLE Gunnar Solskjaer says he speaks to Ed Woodward on a neardaily basis as United resist making an announcement on the next permanent manager.
The Norwegian was appointed caretaker coach until the end of the season on December 19, but executive vice-chairman Woodward and co-chairman Avram Glazer met the Norwegian’s agent Jim Solbakken at Fulham last week.
Woodward thanked Solskjaer for ‘reviving’ United’s performances during the club’s quarterly conference call on Thursday but, after a questioner asked about the managerial situation, Woodward refused to offer an update.
The Reds chief said he is ‘not going to give updates part way through’ the season, with United adamant an announcement will be made on their full-time appointment following the campaign’s conclusion.
Solskjaer has stated a number of times he is already preparing United for beyond this season and, having presided over 10 wins from 12, there is a growing clamour among United fans for him to stay on.
“We speak almost daily,” Solskjaer said of his chats with Woodward. “If we don’t speak we keep in touch by all these gadgets nowadays!
“It’s nice to hear those words but now it’s onto the next game.”
Solskjaer takes United to Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup fifth round on Monday night without Anthony Martial (groin) and Jesse Lingard (hamstring).
Despite that inauspicious news, Solskjaer drew parallels with United’s triumphant FA Cup campaign in 1999 when they beat Chelsea in a quarter-final replay away from home.
“In ’99, we beat them down at Stamford Bridge to get to the semifinal,” Solskjaer explained.
“And then we beat Arsenal and Liverpool [in the fourth round], we did it the hard way then and we will have to do it the hard way this year, looking forward to it.
“I went to see [Chelsea] against City, City were clinical, but they have got some fantastic players, (Chelsea) could have scored two or three in the first-half, they could’ve been two or three up at Bournemouth [in the 4-0 loss].
“It’s those little things that decide games but they have been up and down, but we are keen to play.” Solskjaer has suggested Tahith Chong and Angel Gomes could feature on Monday night with Martial and Lingard out and reserve forwards Alexis Sanchez, Juan Mata and Romelu Lukaku having struggled to flourish in recent weeks.
Mason Greenwood, 17, has plundered 26 goals in 24 appearances for the junior teams this term but is also sidelined for two weeks through injury.
Solskjaer gave Chong his United debut in the third round win over Reading and Gomes also cameoed in the Boxing Day win over Huddersfield.
Solskjaer clarified both have been training with United ahead of the trip to Stamford Bridge.
“Yeah, it might be,” Solskjaer replied when asked if Chong or Gomes could get a chance at Chelsea. “We’ve got still forward options but Angel and Chongy have been Ole Gunnar Solskjaer