WHERE HAVE STABLE STARS ENDED UP?
Eight years on from the end of the Fergie era, United are still playing catch-up but Solskjaer believes his team will be ready to compete for crown next term
BALLYADAM (7-1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle) Grade One winner who is second favourite behind his Leopardstown conqueror Appreciate It.
What’s happened: Moved to Henry de Bromhead ENVOI ALLEN (5-6F Marsh Novices’ Chase) The unbeaten dual Cheltenham hope is regarded as one of the most exciting horses in training.
What’s happened: Moved to Henry de Bromhead GALVIN (7-2 National Hunt Chase)
Second at last year’s Festival and won all four runs since.
What’s happened: Still at stable
SIR GERHARD (2-1 Champion Bumper) Untroubled in his two Bumpers starts so far and second favourite for the Festival.
What’s happened: Moved to Willie Mullins
TIGER ROLL (8-1 Cross Country Chase)
The dual Grand National winner is aiming for a fifth Festival win.
What’s happened: Still at stable
ZANAHIYR (5-2 Triumph Hurdle)
Second favourite after impressively winning all his three races over hurdles.
What’s happened: Still at stable
Joe Root scored 794 runs in Sri Lanka & India: 546 more than any other England batsman across those tours
THE Duncan Edwards museum in Dudley added to their collection last week with a letter from the Worcestershire FA warmly congratulating the 15-year-old Busby Babe on signing for Manchester United. It represented a key moment in history. More than any other individual, Edwards embodied the adventure and vitality of youth that turned United into a worldwide brand and produced decades of success lasting until Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013.
Recent years have been less kind. Manchester has turned blue, with United lurching from one failed strategy to another. Even now, with club legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the helm attempting to revive former glories, fans remains split as to whether he is the right man.
There are arguments on both sides. Backers will point to steady progress, with United in second place going into today’s derby, unbeaten away from home and 10 games overall. Homegrown talent is fashionable again, with Marcus
Rashford, Scott McTominay and Mason Greenwood leading the way and the training ground is again full of club DNA, with former players Mike Phelan, Michael Carrick, Nicky Butt and Darren Fletcher on the coaching staff.
But some will argue the current manager is out of his depth. United are four years without a trophy, their longest run since the 1980s, and have scored only once against the Big Six this season, in a 6-1 defeat against Spurs. They are 14 points behind City and their last three matches have been goalless.
Solskjaer has just a year left on his contract and is aware the club are approaching an important crossroads. He strongly suggests abandoning another plan now would be foolish given they are still playing catch up eight years after Fergie’s exit, with Ed Woodward hiring and then firing David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho.
‘To makes things grow, you need to bless them with some patience,’ said Solskjaer. ‘The more time we get, the better we will become. Every manager builds a team around a club’s culture. We have a culture at Man United we want to stick to. It was built from Sir Matt and Sir Alex; pace, power, quick attacks. It made the club successful in the past and I feel we’re improving and getting closer to winning things.’
City’s success down the road does not make the challenge any easier. Pep Guardiola has won 21 games in a row without having to rely upon Raheem Sterling or Kevin De Bruyne every week. United’s squad looks light in comparison. If Bruno Fernandes does not unlock the door, it often remains shut.
Yet Solskjaer is adamant his group is closer to being the real deal having steadily recruited to add to inherited talent such as Paul Pogba. And the boss sounds like a man desperate to be allowed the chance to have a real tilt at a title challenge next season.
‘We are getting a better and stronger squad,’ he said. ‘Some of them just need experience of playing in the Premier League. We brought in Alex Telles, Donny van de Beek, Edinson Cavani, Amad Diallo, Facundo Pellistri for this season. They need that bit of extra time. Even Bruno has only been here for 13 months.’
Add a top centre-half, right winger and centre-forward and there will be no excuses left.
Bruno’s role today is fascinating. The Portuguese playmaker has been worldclass in many games but rarely showed up in the big ones. Solskjaer says others have to step up if he is being shackled.
‘Taking responsibility is important. Don’t wait for things to happen, make things happen,’ he said. ‘We expect everyone to be a leader. I know teams are trying to manmark Bruno. And someone else will have to step forward.’
At least
Solskjaer (right) knows his side can beat City having achieved it three times last season. ‘You have to attack and defend at your absolute highest level,’ he said. ‘You can’t just defend all the time, your heart would stop.’
City have made light of this unique season with a congested fixture list and no crowds. This is their 42nd game since starting on September 21 and they’ve won 33. Guardiola has found new ways to conserve energy and has taken the momentum of one competition into another, leaving City with the prospect of winning four trophies.
‘We have less meetings. Maybe that’s the reason why we have been winning,’ he said. ‘If you win, it gives everyone confidence. Every night you sleep better, every day you train better.’
Whereas United struggled to replace Ferguson and the Class of ’92, City have continued without Vincent Kompany, David Silva and Yaya Toure. The likes of Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden, Rodri, John Stones and Ruben Dias have become new heroes.
‘We’d have loved to have Vincent eternally but you have to replace him. And all of us,’ said Guardiola. ‘When the manager has to leave, the club mustn’t say: “Oh, Pep is not here any more”. There is no time to wait, you have to do it and the players are the same.
‘The nicest thing about this club is that every time we have won the title, the next season we were there. ‘The lowest position after winning it was second. You see other champions fighting now just to qualify for the top four.’
SOUTHAMPTON dealt Sheffield United’s slim hopes for survival a blow as Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men picked up their first win in 10 matches.
James Ward-Prowse opened the scoring from the penalty spot on 32 minutes after Nathan Tella was brought down.
Che Adams struck a spectacular half-volley from outside the penalty box to leave Sheffield 12 points from safety with just 10 games remaining.
Blades boss Chris Wilder said: ‘We didn’t deserve anything from the game. They (Southampton) were better.’
Leicester came from behind to beat Brighton 2-1 at the Amex Stadium.
Trailing to Adam Lallana’s 10thminute opener, the Foxes went in at the break behind.
However, Brendan Rodgers’ side rallied in the second period as goals from Kelechi Iheanacho and Daniel Amartey moved them into second place.
In the Midlands derby, Aston Villa and Wolves shared a 0-0 draw at Villa Park.
The hosts went closest to opening the scoring as efforts from Ollie Watkins and Ezri Konsa both came back off the crossbar.