Daily Dispatch

Solskjaer will be backed in transfer market

Manchester United soccer manager overcomes initial scrutiny

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Manchester United soccer manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is making progress with the side and will continue to be backed by a longterm recruitmen­t plan focused on the summer transfer windows, executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has said. Solskjaer s position came under scrutiny after

’ defeats by Arsenal and Istanbul Basaksehir last month, but four wins from five games sees them trail Premier League leaders Tottenham Hotspur by five points with a game in hand. They need only a point to reach the Champions League knockout stages.

United visit West Ham at London Stadium on Saturday.

We recognise there s more hard work “’ ahead to achieve the consistenc­y needed to win trophies,” Woodward said at a fans forum.

But we see positive signs on the pitch and “the training ground that reinforce our belief in the progress being made by Ole, his coaching team and the players.”

Woodward maintained United had kept their promise by recruiting heavily in the summer transfer window despite the club s

’ financial situation being affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

We will continue to support Ole with a “planned, long-term approach to recruitmen­t, focused on the summer windows,” he added.

Woodward also said the club would not take part in any breakaway European Super League and that he was involved in talks aimed at the strengthen­ing of existing Uefa club competitio­ns.

We believe that any changes to European “competitio­n post-2024 must be complement­ary to thriving domestic leagues,” Woodward, a board member of the European Club Associatio­n, said.

Other domestic leagues feel the same way, “reflected in conversati­on with our counterpar­ts in other clubs and countries.” Fixtures

Saturday: Everton v Burnley (Turf Moor), Manchester City v Fulham (Etihad Stadium), Chelsea v Leeds United (Stamford Bridge)

Sunday: Crystal Palace v West Bromwich Albion (The Hawthorns), Sheffield United v Leicester City (Bramall Lane), Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium), Liverpool v Wolverhamp­tion Wanderers (Anfield).

 ?? Adam Davy ?? WELL SUPPORTED: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, manager of Manchester United and Fred of Manchester United celebrate after one of the team's victories
Adam Davy WELL SUPPORTED: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, manager of Manchester United and Fred of Manchester United celebrate after one of the team's victories

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