OLE HAS HEAD FOR HEIGHTS
Solskjaer still believes his boys can mount a challenge for the title
UNDER- FIRE Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has come out fighting – declaring that Manchester United can still be title contenders.
Solskjaer is facing renewed pressure after their Champions League exit, with many fans losing faith in his ability to lead the Reds back to the top.
But victory today would move United up to fourth, two points behind leaders Tottenham.
“At United you should always aim to win trophies,” said Solskjaer. “With the past three seasons, there’s been two teams far ahead of the rest of the pack.
“But I got belief during the season, or since the turn of the year, this team is improving and challenge.
“I don’t think any team will run away with it. I go into every game wanting to win and if you win every game you end up with a trophy.”
Solskjaer celebrates two years in the hot seat next week, with his suitability for the role a topic of fierce debate. But he was phlegmatic when asked how he deals with the constant scrutiny.
“There’s pressure when you manage United,” he said. “That’s something I had to think about when I accepted the role. I’ve got fantastic staff we can
I use as sparring partners for discussions and the conversation with the club goes on all the time.”
Solskjaer cannot afford for the team to regress domestically after failing in the Champions League.
“We were disappointed on Tuesday,” said Solskjaer. “We really wanted to go through, the reality is we didn’t and now we’ve got to move on.
“I feel we’re getting better and better and looking more like a United team that I want with fast, dynamic attackers.
“We’ve got good players who can create magic out of nothing, and that’s always been the case at United.
“But we can see more of the penetration and consistency everyone says we don’t have.
We’ve won our past four in the league.”
Solskjaer refused to condemn Paul Pogba after the midfielder’s agent Mino Raiola chose the eve of Tuesday’s 3- 2 defeat at RB Leipzig to declare his desire to leave.
“I said during the week that this is a team game and Paul is part of this team,” he said.
“He wants to train and he trains. There’s been other players refusing to train and refusing to play – they’re not here any more of course – but Paul’s not once done that.
“He’s part of the squad for tomorrow.”
The United boss was coy on whether David De Gea, accused by Paul Scholes of “bottling it” for Leipzig’s third goal, will keep his place ahead of Dean Henderson.
Asked if De Gea was undroppable, Solskjaer said: “David knows that Dean is a fantastic keeper and Dean knows that David is a fantastic keeper, so the two of them are fighting for one spot.”