‘Fearless’ United prepare for Champions League showdown

Reds boss Solskjaer believes his academy stars with ‘United DNA’ will be fearless in Euro showdown

OLE Gunnar Solskjaer has hailed the fearlessness of academy duo Brandon Williams and Mason Greenwood as the perfect ingredient for United.

The teenagers could both play in today’s winner-takes-all Champions League shootout, but rather than being inhibited by the occasion Solskjaer believes they will be emboldened by having the ‘United DNA’.

The United manager wants his team to be fearless in their approach at Leicester City, despite having the comfort blanket of knowing a draw would be enough to secure a top four finish.

Victory at the King Power Stadium would guarantee third place – and that’s the target for Solskjaer, with Williams and Greenwood likely to be involved.

The former, 19, has deputised for Luke Shaw at left-back for the last two games and Greenwood, 18, has become a regular fixture in the side recently.

“Your temperament and your mental preparation, how you approach the game, is vital. And when you’re Brandon, when you’re Mason – when you’re one of the young kids who have come through this academy – they have no fear,” said Solskjaer.

“They know what we want from our players. We want them to express their talents, we want them to take risks, we want them to play.

“We just trust them to do that,” the boss added.

While United’s teen duo are still learning the ropes this season it will be a familiar venue for captain Harry Maguire today, who returns to the King Power Stadium for the first time since his £80m move from Leicester.

Maguire’s former team-mates will have the added motivation of knowing a win would mean they finish above United despite his departure, but Solskjaer is confident his skipper will be able to set aside those emotions come kick-off time.

“That is football for you. Of course the emotions and the feelings he has for Leicester, he has to leave them aside for 90 minutes plus,” he said.

“But he has had a great time there, he has spoken about that and he is grateful for his time there, but this is, unfortunately for them, 90 minutes he has to leave aside.

“You are a defender. You don’t want them to be emotional anyway so Harry is fine.

“He will be fine.”