Solskjaer now knows his first choice XI
THEY say in football you either win or you learn. But at Norwich, United managed to do both.
Not that Reds supporters were particularly happy with their side’s performance in booking their place in the FA Cup semi-finals, even if Ole Gunnar Solskajer was typically phlegmatic after the final whistle and will accept that he learned a fair amount about some of his fringe players.
You wondered before the trip to Carrow Road how many changes he would make to the side, given his team had faced Sheffield United three days earlier and now travel to Brighton tomorrow as the battle for Champions League spots heats up.
Yet even in the circumstances, eight changes was more than most expected as only Luke Shaw, Bruno Fernandes and captain Harry Maguire kept their places - all playing the full 120 minutes required to beat 10-man bottom-of-thetable Norwich.
It was less than ideal, as Maguire admitted after he’d scuffed home a dramatic winner deep into extra time.
The additional half hour was particularly unwanted for a team who, until 10 days ago, hadn’t played any competitive football for more than three months.
“In the end we’ve got there and very please to get to a semi-final, that’s all that matters really,” said a visibly jaded Maguire.
“We wanted to win in 90 minutes for sure, an extra 30 minutes in the legs but we felt good and sharp out here. Rest and recover and then we’ve got a big game against Brighton and we’ve got to get three points.”
If Solskjaer was using the FA Cup
quarter-final as a trial for many of his fringe players, then it was an experiment that backfired in the cases of many.
He talked up Jesse Lingard before the game, suggesting the forlorn England international could be involved, and stayed true to his word.
But after a bright start when he drove at Norwich’s defence, he became peripheral and was inevitably replaced in the second half.
Juan Mata had even less impact on the game, giving the ball away too often. He is turning 32 soon and may well be past his peak years, but Solskjaer would have hoped for more from the Spaniard.
Only really Odion Ighalo and Fred, of those to come into the starting 11, can hold their heads up high.
Ighalo scored yet another poacher’s goal, his fifth in four United starts, and remained a lively threat up front for the entire 120 minutes. No wonder Solskjaer lauded the on-loan Nigerian after the
game. He is a credible alternative to Anthony Martial up front.
And while Fred may have been hurt after he was dropped for the Sheffield United game, he responded with a brave battling display in midfield. He was United’s best passer and Norwich would surely have viewed him as the biggest nuisance in midfield, as the Brazilian buzzed around and interrupted the hosts’ rhythm.
Scott McTominay wasn’t at his best, but both he and Fred should remain in the mix as Solskjaer considers his strongest midfield, even if Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic are in situ right now.
Eric Bailly and Brandon Williams aren’t too far away from the first team either, despite the fact the former was a little shaky at Norwich and Williams didn’t even start. When the youngster eventually came on, it was at right-back rather than on the left. No matter, he looked a more solid option than the man he replaced, Diogo Dalot, who did little to further his case.
Taking into account that Sergio Romero didn’t have his best game and is a way off David de Gea in terms of challenging for the main goalkeeping role, it leaves United with 17 viable first-team players.
Daniel James wasn’t involved against Norwich, but he is in that group as well.
De Gea, Wan-Bissaka and Victor Lindelof are all bona fide first-teamers and should return against Brighton tomorrow.
Solskjaer should now know his frontline players after a very mixed afternoon at Norwich. He learned a lot.
■ FA Cup hero Harry Maguire has revealed he is working on scoring more goals for United.
The Reds skipper stepped up with a dramatic extra-time winner against Norwich to secure a place in the semifinals.
It is only his third for United and Maguire admits he should be getting more. “I’m always pleased when I chip in, to help the team and especially in the last minute of extra time,” he said. “That’s my third this season and I want to get plenty more. It’s something
I’m working on, I want to improve and take it into the rest of the season and the season after.”
And now he has set his sights on lifting his first trophy as United skipper.
He added: “I joined this club to win trophies so we’re in the semi-final of the FA Cup,” he added.
“It’s a great competition and we’ll look forward to it. Hopefully, in the semi-final we can play a lot better than we did here.”