Manchester Evening News

Ole not playing for a draw in Foxes showdown

- By DOMINIC BOOTH

UNITED won’t go into their top four showdown with Leicester City playing for a draw, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said.

The United boss has promised a positive and attacking approach from his side, despite only needing a draw to rubber-stamp a place in next season’s Champions League.

Three points at the King Power Stadium will guarantee a third-place finish for United and Solskjaer has faith in his players to deliver a performanc­e on the big occasion.

“We have to go into the game with a positive mindset, going there to attack, going there to win the ball, going there on the front foot, defend on the front foot,” he told Sky Sports.

“We know Leicester are a good side and they’re going to pin us back at times and we’re going to have to defend our box as well, so stop crosses, if the crosses come into the box get first to it. All the basics in football.

“And you know you have to work really, really hard. You have to go there with a frame of mind that, ‘when I’m off the pitch today, I’ve given everything I have for the shirt’ – and hopefully that will be enough for a result.

“You can never control the result in a game of football, you can only control your effort in the performanc­e.”

Solskjaer also dismissed concerns that fatigue had beset his squad, after recent poor displays.

Solskjaer added: “I just want to see them do what they’ve done over the last five or six weeks, go out there with a smile, express themselves, play with no fear, play with courage, go and attack teams, go and drive at them.”

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