Solskjaer hints Reds may stop Bruno playing for Portugal
OLE Gunnar Solskjaer has hinted United could refuse to let some of their key players go away on international duty later this month.
The Reds have the power to prevent any of their stars from attending national team matches if they would then need to quarantine upon their return to the country. Bruno Fernandes is one such player, with Portugal on the Government’s ‘red list’ which requires travellers from there to undergo a 10-day quarantine period upon returning to England.
Portugal host Azerbaijan on March 24, then travel to Serbia on March 27 and Luxembourg three days later all in World Cup qualifiers. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has already confirmed he will block his top stars from travelling with their countries if a quarantine period is required, and now Solskjaer has hinted at a similar approach.
“It doesn’t make sense to travel when we’re paying them if they have to come back and be away for 10 days,” Solskjaer said after last night’s 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace.
“It is a chat we will have with the players.”
Were Fernandes to play for Portugal, he would miss United’s Premier League games against Brighton on April 3 and away to Tottenham on April 10.
City also have several Portuguese players including Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo and Bernardo Silva.
FIFA have said clubs will be able to stop players from travelling to represent their national sides if it means they have to quarantine when they get back, so many foreign Premier League stars could miss out on World Cup qualifiers.
Meanwhile, Nemanja Matic said the mood in the United dressing room ‘wasn’t great’ following their drab goalless draw with Palace which leaves them 14 points behind City in the title race.
The Serbian midfielder also believes the Reds need to take more risks in attack after they were held to
their third consecutive goalless draw.
Despite dominating possession, Solskjaer’s side never looked like scoring at Selhurst Park as they failed to capitalise on Leicester’s dropped points earlier in the day.
Solskjaer’s side - who had to rely on a good late save from Dean Henderson to secure the point - will need a much improved performance when they travel to the Etihad on Sunday afternoon and Matic knows his side need to start being braver with their attacking play.
“Palace played solid compact football,” the midfielder said.
“They waited for their chances. They had an opportunity to win the game at the end.
“We have to do much better, we have to risk more in attack to create more chances.
“We are Manchester United, we have to win this kind of game. On Sunday we have a big game against Manchester City. We have to refocus for that.
“When we don’t win we are frustrated. The feeling in the dressing room wasn’t great. If we need to take some positives, it’s a clean sheet.”
And Solskjaer admitted his side just weren’t at their best.
“It’s disappointing. We were just a little bit off. If you’re not spot on you’re not going to win games,” he said.
“Sometimes it’s human nature, sometimes you don’t work at your best. Today we didn’t. It’s been a long season but everyone has the same season.”
Goalkeeper David de Gea was absent due to personal reasons and Solskjaer could not confirm when he will return.
“No. That’s a private matter. It will take the time it takes,” he added.