Quick Champions return a must for us, says Solskjaer
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer knows the longer Manchester United are out of the Champions League the more they will “suffer”.
The Red Devils are preparing to take on Club Brugge in the Europa League round of 32 tonight, having missed out on a ticket to European football’s top table by finishing sixth in the Premier League last season.
Failing to make it into the Champions League again will make it even harder for United to attract elite-level reinforcements this summer, while the financial impact is already being felt.
United recorded revenues of £627.1 million last year but the second-quarter results showed they are expecting it to drop to a figure between £560m and £580m in 2020.
“We’re a big club, we’ve got good finances,” Solskjaer said.
“But, of course, the longer you’re out the more you suffer, so of course it’s an ambition for us to get back into the
Champions League, both for the footballing reasons and financially that will help the club.
“We’ve just got to focus on the next game, this competition now, then it’s the league on Sunday, then it’s the FA Cup on Thursday, then it’s the league again and hopefullymoreeuropeangames.”
Bruno Fernandes’ arrival has certainly increased their chances of success, with the big-money January arrival from Sporting Lisbon hitting the ground running at Old Trafford.
“We feel we’ve added some X Factor quality with Bruno, definitely,” he said.
“The addition of Bruno gives us that little bit of a different flavour.”