Ole aims to keeper the ball rolling in top stopper battle
OLE GUNNAR Solskjaer insists he has no problem with the brewing battle between David De Gea and Dean Henderson to be Manchester United goalkeeper, saying the selection headache reminds him of his own playing days at Old Trafford.
United’s undisputed No.1 for a decade has been De Gea but that status is now up for grabs, with Henderson having started the last seven games.
De Gea’s last appearance came on February 28 after being allowed to return to Spain for the birth of his first child, but he has since watched the last three matches from the bench, suggesting Henderson has supplanted him as Solskjaer’s preferred option.
The United boss, though, said who plays is goal is a game-by-game decision and said that if De Gea returned to the team in the Europa League against Granada tonight, it did not amount to a demotion. ‘I’ve got two very, very good options and whoever plays will play well I’m sure,’ Solskjaer said. ‘I cannot prioritise league, Europa League – every game here is the most important one. The next one is the most important one.
‘Every time I try to explain to players why they don’t play in this particular game and what they need to do and what my plans are with them, all those discussions remain private of course.
‘David’s been a top, top keeper and he still is a top, top keeper. He’s working to be ready when he plays.
‘If it’s Dean, David, I’m very comfortable with both of them to play and I’m very happy that none of them are happy to not play.’
Recalling his own playing days at the club, Solskjaer added: ‘When you’re a part of Man United, there’s always going to be players coming in and players who don’t just come in to fill the bench or the squad. Everyone’s got ambition to take your shirt.
‘I was there myself as a striker. We signed Ruud (Van Nistelrooy), Diego Forlan, Louis Saha – we signed loads of top strikers. Dwight Yorke and Teddy Sheringham. The aim for me then is to prove to the manager, “Okay, I don’t mind but I’m still important for you, I’m still going to give everything I can to play”. It’s the same – right-back, left-back, centre-forward, goalkeeper.’
Solskjaer pledged not to overplay Marcus Rashford as the forward continues to battle back from injury.
Rashford has been included in the 24-man squad heading to Spain for the first leg of the Europa League lasteight clash and the United boss added: ‘Marcus is travelling and we’ve just got to make a decision tomorrow if he starts or if he’s on the bench.’