THE WAIT IS OVER!
OLE’S CHALLENGE TO REDS AS THEY FINALLY END AWAY DAY DROUGHT
OLE Gunnar Solskjaer insists United need to build on the momentum of a first away win in 12 games and end their winless record on the road in the Premier League.
The Reds secured their first away victory in 232 days with a 1-0 defeat of Partizan Belgrade in the Europa League and travel to Norwich City on Sunday in the first of three successive away games.
Chelsea host United in the Carabao Cup fourth round on Wednesday and Bournemouth then await in a lunchtime kick-off on Saturday week.
The Reds have not claimed three points away from Old Trafford since they beat Crystal Palace 3-1 on February 27 to set a club-record nine successive away wins.
“Of course I’m happy now,” Solskjaer said after Anthony Martial’s first-half penalty gave them the win. “We can just look forward to the next one, try to build momentum, we need to win away from home in the league.
“But another clean sheet, and that gives you a platform to win the games from.
“We had to defend really well,” Solskjaer added. “Their team was really good secondhalf, lots of courage, send men forward, create loads of opponents.”
OLE Gunnar Solskjaer was not impressed with some of United’s defending against Partizan Belgrade in the Europa League and admits it’s something that needs improving.
The Reds won their first away game since their Champions League triumph against Paris Saint-Germain in March thanks to a first-half Anthony Martial penalty, but were forced to dig deep in the second half.
Solskjaer changed from the back three he started with to a back four as United fought for their first away win in 232 days and the manager was critical of the way his side defended at times.
“Second half I thought we dug in really well in the box, defended really well in the box,” Solskjaer said.
“They played well in the second half and made us defend too deep.
“I’m not happy with the defending at the front. I think that’s been one of our strengths this season but I thought that was non-existent in the second half. That needs sorting out.”
United are now top of Group L having played three games and a win in the next game, at home against Partizan, would see them secure qualification for the knockout stages.
And Solskjaer is hoping to get that wrapped up as soon as possible.
“We’re going to host them and go all out to get that win and the last two games we know we’re through,” Solskjaer added.
“It’s a great position to be in so far and we haven’t conceded a goal so defensively we have done really well but we know we need to score more goals.”
Meanwhile, Harry Maguire has explained why he was not ready to conduct the pre-match coin toss as he captained the Reds for the first time.
The defender was handed the armband in the absence of Ashley Young and David de Gea in Belgrade,
but when the Europa League anthem had been played, the centre-back was nowhere to be seen when the referee wanted to complete the pre-match formalities.
The officials were heard shouting for Maguire, who then sheepishly jogged towards them.
But explaining the mix-up, Maguire tweeted after the game saying he was expecting to be needed in the centre circle, rather than on the touchline.
“Last time I did this you did the coin toss in the centre circle,” he said. “It’s been a long time.”
He added the hashtag ‘#LetMeOff’ and two shrugging emojis.
In a separate tweet, Maguire called the opportunity to captain United an honour.