Solskjaer backs United to achieve their goal of a top-four finish
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is confident that Manchester United are equipped to break into the top four ahead of schedule and flourish in their tough-looking February fixtures.
The Norwegian hit a first bump in the road since becoming caretaker manager as Burnley visited on Tuesday, with a late comeback required to seal a 2-2 home draw as his eight-match winning start to life at the Old Trafford helm came to an end.
That run means Solskjaer’s side enter the weekend just two points off the Champions League qualification places – quite the turnaround considering they were 11 points off the pace when he succeeded Jose Mourinho in December.
United will attempt to increase the pressure on top-four rivals Arsenal and Chelsea by winning at Leicester today, kicking off a tough month which includes the Champions League last-16 first leg against Paris St-germain and FA Cup fifth-round trip to Chelsea.
“I feel it’s very well equipped,” Solskjaer said of the squad’s strength heading into February.
“We’ve now had six weeks together. We’ve found out what strengths, weaknesses we’ve got.
“I think we’ve risen to most of the challenges, maybe of course the setback of the two Burnley goals we conceded, maybe they will make us move to the next level because I think we’ve given ourselves a chance now to get into the top four maybe earlier than we thought.
“It’s not too many games, there’s still a week between every single one of them, but it’s tough opposition. Definitely.
“You start with this game against Leicester, Fulham away as well is also a tough one.
“Then you’ve got the three big ones you can call it, with PSG, Chelsea and Liverpool after each other. Then a very hard one, when you think you’ve done with those three, with Palace away. So it’s a tough month – but we’re ready.
“I’ve got a big squad, it’s only Marcos Rojo now who’s out for a period, the rest are fit and available.”
Solskjaer expects Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba to be fit for the trip to the King Power Stadium after the former missed the Burnley match through injury
and the latter was seen limping away from Old Trafford. The duo could have key roles to play against a team who have produced Jekyll and Hyde displays under divisive Claude Puel.
The Foxes saw their FA Cup embarrassment at Newport compounded by losses to Southampton and Wolves, only to end that run of defeats by holding leaders Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at Anfield on Wednesday.
“They beat Chelsea,” Solskjaer said of Leicester, who also defeated Manchester City on Boxing Day. “I watched the game on Wednesday night and it’s a team full of energy, pace, they defend well.
“They drop back and defend so it’s hard to break them down and then they’ve got the pace up front with
( Jamie) Vardy, (Demarai) Gray, ( James) Maddison, (Marc) Albrighton, so it’s going be a tough challenge – but we like challenges.”
Claude Puel says a home win against Manchester United would be “perfect” as he looks to continue the Foxes’ impressive recent run against the Premier League’s top six clubs.
The Frenchman also feels Leicester owe their supporters a big performance, admitting that their home results – just two wins since September – have not been good enough.
“If we can give a good feeling, a good spirit and a good attitude on the pitch, we can give our best all the time and it would be fantastic if we can give a reward to our fans because at home we did not perform well enough. Against United, it would be perfect,” said Puel.
New Leicester signing Youri Tielemans will hope to be involved.