Whizz-kid slams Reds show as not good enough
DANIEL James admitted United’s performance against Burnley ‘simply wasn’t good enough’.
The 2-0 defeat meant the Reds have now lost more Premier League games than the 11 they have won since Solskjaer’s permanent appointment in March.
However, United fans continued to chant the 1999 Treble hero’s name during Wednesday’s loss – striking given the abuse, and at times sinister chants, aimed at the Glazer family and executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.
“It’s obviously disappointing,” the Wales winger said following the defeat. “It wasn’t good enough. We know that and obviously the fans know that as well. We need to, as a team, take chances better.“
James bemoaned a lack of cutting edge during a promising United start that quickly unravelled, with Solskjaer’s side mustering precious little response to Burnley’s goals either side of half-time.
It led to renewed, furious chants at Old Trafford calling for the owners and Woodward to leave.
James said: “I think every week, home and away, they (the fans) cheer us on and stick by us.
“We’re obviously going to react from this. We know that wasn’t good enough.”
United have an FA Cup fourth round tie on Sunday, and a trip to City for the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final next week before attention turns to narrowing the gap to the top four with United still fifth.
“I think that’s obviously still up for grabs,” James said of the Champions League spots. “We’ve got to keep fighting.
“We’ll reflect on this game and then see what went wrong. Then we’ve got two big cup games coming up. We’ve got to go into that with heads held high.
“I think next the league game isn’t for another couple of weeks now, so that’s on our mind but it’s all about concentrating on the next game.
“We’ve got to react, we’ve got to be better.”
CHRIS Wilder has backed Dean Henderson to have a long-term future at United, but is open to signing the goalkeeper on loan again next season.
Henderson is enjoying a fine season with the Blades in what has been his first taste of Premier League football, leading to speculation he could return to Old Trafford to challenge David De Gea for the role of United’s No. 1 next season.
The 22-year-old is in his second successive season at Bramall Lane, having helped Wilder’s side to promotion from the Championship last season.
His performances have again caught the eye this season and he was in inspired form during Sheffield United’s 1-0 defeat to City on Tuesday night.
Henderson has kept eight clean sheets this season, the joint most in the top flight, and his form could see him mount a late surge for a place in England’s Euro 2020 squad.
Wilder has already hinted at the possibility of securing Henderson for a third successive season, but he believes the goalkeeper’s long-term future will lie at Old Trafford.
“It won’t be on a permanent basis, definitely not. His future is at Manchester United, no doubt,” the Blades boss said of attempts to re-sign Henderson.
“If the opportunity came about that figure would be huge. If the opportunity comes about that we could get him back on loan next