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The manager refuses to be drawn in on whether his team has what it takes to be there at the end of the season, but they showed courage against the Wolves.
This game was destined to be included in the ever-expanding category of the annual Premier League goalless draws between Manchester United and Wolves.
That was until Marcus Rashford appeared with a deflected winner in the 93rd minute. The reaction on the United bench to the goal was one of the loudest in the running of the bulls. They knew that this victory brought with it three massive points.
Last gasp winners were synonymous with the Manchester United of yesteryear; Sir Alex Ferguson’s era when they achieved results on their way to back-to-back titles even when they didn’t always deserve them.
Sir Alex was winning the stands at Old Trafford, wrapped up against the cold of late December, staring at his old team. Without a doubt, he will have been warmed up in the Baltic climate of Mancunian by the traits of his league winning teams that are beginning to be noticed in this team with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
This is a United team, who like glory days, they don’t give up. In 10 of his 15 league games this season, he has scored in the last 15 minutes. Only Liverpool have done it more.
Sometimes during this 1-0 win, they didn’t play like a team you would seriously consider title challengers, but being second at the turn of the year, just two points behind the league leaders, is nothing to be sniffed at. .
There are things that you certainly need to work on; on Boxing Day it was defensive fragility and this time it was the way they fought again to break through a well-organized and tough bottom line of the Lobos.
Solskjaer had put a lot of talent into the attack in his starting eleven: Rashford, Mason Greenwood, Edinson Cavani and Bruno Fernandes were all there from the beginning, but they had trouble really testing Rui Patricio in the visiting goal, with Nuno Espirito Santo’s team preparing to camp within his own penalty area.
However, United’s courage, determination and drive to cross the line cannot fail, and it has contributed to a nine-game unbeaten streak in the league.
Four times during that period they have had to come from behind on the road, and then it was Tuesday night.
Solskjaer made six changes and there was little cohesion, especially in the first half, with the coach understandably trying to rotate his squad during a hectic holiday period. But again, just when it seemed likely that they were going to lose points, they got a great result.
“Today was tough, but we expected a difficult match. But we managed to get over the line, “Rashford said. Amazon Prime Video After the match.
And that’s what’s important to United during this tight match schedule – getting over the line.
Solskjaer said before the game against Sheffield United 13 days ago that there would be a clearer vision of a possible title race at the turn of the year.
United host Aston Villa at Old Trafford on New Year’s Day in another key game and if they can extend their unbeaten streak to 10 it will be hard to rule them out.
After the match, with another victory under his belt, Solskjaer will not be involved in any kind of conversation about the title.
“There is no title race after 15 games, you can miss a chance to be in a race in the first 10 games, of course you can, but play another 15, get to 30, and maybe we can start talking about one. title race, “he said.
However, what he can see clearly in his team is the fruit of the conversations that emerged in the preseason about the mental strength of the team. That’s helping to push your side back closer to where you want to be: the top of the table.
“We return to Bruno’s debut against Wolves [in February] and now we are a different team, better mentally and physically. Physically and mentally, that belief has come through performances and results, and players we have on the field who can change games in a second, ”said Solskjaer.
“You get it for personalities, for recruiting, extra spark and when you get results, things go your way and that helps.”
They need to build on that. A win against Villa would show a true declaration of intent and United’s next league game after that will be in Liverpool, a real litmus test.
They got the three points they deserved at Old Trafford against the Wolves, but it will take more than guts, determination and a bit of luck to make sure they win back the Premier League trophy.
The big positive for United is that they are in dispute, whether Solskjaer wants to admit it or not.
