Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
SOUTHAMPTON v MAN UNITED
Ole reckons most fans will be ‘respectful and support their country more’ as he slams Sancho and Rashford boo-boys
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER will tell Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford to be like David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo if they continue to be a target for Premier League boo-boys.
Solskjaer was shocked to hear £73million new-boy Sancho taunted by Leeds fans on his Old Trafford debut last weekend. Footage then emerged on social media of Manchester City’s travelling supporters chanting about how Sancho and Rashford “let their country down” by missing penalties in England’s heartbreaking Euro final shoot-out defeat by Italy. Solskjaer was Beckham’s United team-mate when the Three Lions star returned home from the 1998 World Cup as a red-card villain – and saw how Sir Alex Ferguson helped the midfielder bounce back.
And Solskjaer witnessed how Ronaldo’s emergence as one of the game’s greatest-ever players was unhindered by the abuse he suffered after the 2006 World Cup.
The United boss said: “I don’t expect it to happen with too many away fans, or any fans. Hopefully, more of them are more respectful and support their country more. “But with regards to how we handle it – no problem.
“Jadon and Marcus are both strong characters, so it won’t be an issue.
“As a club, we know that sometimes you have to be strong and the way the manager [Sir Alex] dealt with the Becks situation was exactly right.
“We will protect them, I’ll protect them – and that’s absolutely no issue. “You see other clubs’ fans, they show their support to the players who’ve been brave enough to step up for their country.” Solskjaer believes a speech made by former USA president Theodore Roosevelt over 100 years ago illustrates the kind of challenge his two England stars are facing. Roosevelt’s so-called
‘Man in the Arena’ address articulated how “credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena” rather than his critics.
Beckham was Public Enemy No.1 after being sent off against Argentina in France, with 10-man England going on to lose that last-16 clash in a shoot-out. Four years later, his redemption was complete when he scored the group-stage goal in Japan that beat Argentina and helped put England in the knockouts.
Ronaldo suffered a similar experience after Wayne Rooney was shown a red card in Portugal’s last-eight victory over England at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Solskjaer saw how
Ronaldo and Beckham faced the storm – and used the experience to become even better.
He added: “Roosevelt’s ‘Man In The Arena’ resonates for me in this situation.
“With Cristiano and
Becks, it’s not just because you’ve done something wrong, it’s also because they’re afraid of you.
“Becks dealt with it by saying, ‘I’ll show you,
I’ll show character, I’ll prove how good I am’.
“That’s the traits of a Man United player, and a Man United person.
“To go through difficult times still knowing that you’ve got your team-mates and your teammates have your back.”
Sancho is hoping for his first United start when Solskjaer (left) takes his men to Southampton today, still buoyed by the 5-1 demolition of Leeds last week. Rashford (above) is still recovering from the operation to cure the shoulder problem that plagued him for much of last season.
France defender Raphael Varane is pushing to make his United debut following his £40m arrival from Real Madrid.
Solskjaer believes it is that sort of pressure for places that will help to drive his team forward this season.
He said: “I think you have to have that personality in you to relish and enjoy healthy competition for places.
“It should bring the best out of you. That little bit of fear of losing that position, but also playing in the team with so many good players.
“I have always enjoyed players having someone to look over their shoulder and feeling, ‘I have to perform to stay in the team’.
“And it is also a challenge for me, to know when to rotate, because I trust all of my players.”