NO OLE FAIL
Solskjaer: Authorities set us up for a fall but we proved a point
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hailed his heroes for securing a massive victory after accusing the Premier League of setting Manchester United up to fail.
The Old Trafford boss was upset at having to play at Goodison on Saturday lunchtime after a midweek trek to Turkey on Champions League duty.
The dismal loss to Istanbul Basaksehir had piled pressure on Solskjaer, with rumours he might be axed if United slipped to another defeat.
And it didn’t look good for the Norwegian when Bernard fired Everton ahead early in the first half.
But his players dug deep and a double from Bruno Fernandes put United ahead before Edinson Cavani came on to secure victory with his first goal for the club.
Solskajer was proud of his players but let rip in an outburst at league chiefs over the scheduling of the match.
He said: “We were set up to fail. The kick- off time set us up to fail. We have been to Turkey, played loads of games this season already, we got back Thursday and we are playing Saturday lunchtime, it’s an absolute shambles.
“These boys deserve better. Luke Shaw got injured because of it. It’s a hamstring which might be a long one and Marcus Rashford might be struggling.
“The authorities set us up to fail, who is responsible? We’ve had enough of that.
“Players this season, in a pandemic, mentally and physically it’s draining. Let us play on a Sunday, there’s an international break next, it’s a joke.
“But the players were brilliant. Cavani is getting better and better.”
United’s defending was shambolic in Istanbul but they kept Everton quiet after Bernard had rifled home from the edge of the box to open the scoring.
Fernandes levelled with a lovely floating header then was credited with United’s second after Rashford failed to get a touch on a cross that bounced into Jordan Pickford’s net.
The Toffees had plenty of pressure in the second half but were killed off late on when Fernandes slipped in sub Cavani to slot home the third.
Skipper Harry Maguire said: “We knew we had to get three points. It’s early in the season and we don’t look at the table but the points we have accumulated isn’t good enough.
“It’s important to bounce back from setbacks. We’ve been questioned but we know we don’t answer them in 90 minutes, we answer them day in, day out. The lads are working tirelessly for this club, everyone wants to improve and do better. The manager has to pull the lads off the training ground.
“It was a frustrating night in Turkey and the boys held their hands up and apologised. We are a good group who work really hard and we’re a l l in this together.”
After starting the season with four successive wins Everton have now lost three in a row to undo all their good work.
Boss Carlo Ancelotti, who recalled England keeper Pickford after dropping him for the loss to Newcastle, insisted poor defending was to blame.
But he insisted the whole team were at fault as he demanded an improvement after the international break.
The Italian said: “The problem was that after we scored we were not able to defend well and they took advantage. They were able to score easily.
“We said before the game we had to defend better and we did not defend wel l enough. We were slow at the back, we have to improve.
“I hope after the international break we will back in a different shape. It is not only a problem of the defenders, it is all of the team.
“I know how to manage difficulties, every year you have them. We are really bad at the moment but we started well.”