Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
WE'VE GOT TO GO FOUR IT
Ole City won’t KO rely for Champions League place
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER has urged his players not to rely on the FFP crisis at rivals Manchester City to give them a Champions League reprieve.
The Manchester United boss is targeting a top-four finish after closing to within four points of Chelsea, ahead of today’s clash with Everton at Goodison Park.
If City’s two-year Champions League ban for breaking financial regulations is upheld on appeal, the Reds – who are also into the last 16 of the Europa League – would qualify for Europe’s top club competition by finishing fifth.
But Solskjaer said: “We want to get into the top four. That’s been the aim this season and we can’t concern ourselves about what is happening with other clubs.
“We know that we have to improve and that has to be our focus because, in the end, we want to challenge for the top.
“We’re in good form and I think Sunday is going to be a massive game for us because Everton want to be in the challenge as well.
“So it’s a big game, a big test and a measure how far have we come.
“Bruges are the only team in the last seven games who have scored against us, so, hopefully, we can keep the clean sheets going and also score a goal or two.”
United have been reaping the rich rewards of bringing in £68million Bruno Fernandes from Sporting Lisbon last month.
But Solskjaer believes that the
Portuguese’s midfield partner Fred is now showing why Jose Mourinho outbid Pep Guardiola in the summer of 2018 to bring the Brazilian to Old Trafford.
The 26-year-old struggled for form in his first season at the club, following his £52m arrival from Shakhtar Donetsk.
But he scored two goals in the 5-0 Euro romp over Club Bruges on Thursday night and has emerged as one of United’s key performers this term.
Solskjaer said: “Fred has really taken on the challenge this season. He had a tough first season, but, ever since we came in, we’ve shown him that we believe in him and he knows that.
“Maybe he struggled a bit with the language, but his English is better now and he’s got used to English football.
“You don’t have three or four touches in the Premier League. You have to play one- and twotouch and he came with all those little habits that Brazilian players have from a slower type of game. But
Fred is a top, top human being. He’s a tough lad, he’s mentally very strong, he’s always positive, he works hard and tries his best.”
Solskjaer added: “The season started a bit slow for Fred, because he came a bit later into the squad.
“He got married and the wedding had to be planned around the Copa America, so he missed pre-season.
“But I’m delighted with him and now he’s got a couple of goals under his belt as well.
“He has loads of attempts on goal, gets to the box and, although he is left-footed, his right foot is decent as well.
“He’s just not had the luck – but, hopefully, that will change now.”