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United had one foot in the round of 16 after opening victories against Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig, but Tuesday’s 3-2 loss to the German side knocked them out of the competition.
Solskjaer now has to rally the troops for Saturday’s Old Trafford clash with City as United look to win just their second Premier League game of the season at home.
The Red Devils are sixth in the league after four straight wins, one point ahead of City, which is showing signs of being fit after a faltering start to the season.
Solskjaer said on Friday that his players were disappointed by his exit from the Champions League, but must now “move on.”
“It was a tight group decided by very thin margins,” he said. “I think you can see it in most games. We had a long journey back so we had a recovery day on Wednesday.
“Then after that the focus has been good. The focus has been on this game and the Manchester derby, which is what you want the players to do immediately.”
“That is probably the best game you can ask for after such a disappointment because it stays in your system.”
The issue of Paul Pogba’s future dominated preparation for Tuesday’s Champions League game after his agent Mino Raiola said the Frenchman was “unhappy” at the club.
“I talk to my players on a daily basis and Paul is no different from the others,” Solskjaer said. “For me, what disappointed me this week was that we went to the Champions League.
“The players want to go through that and what anyone’s representatives say cannot affect me.”
David de Gea is another United player in the spotlight after he was criticized for not doing more to stop Leipzig’s third goal, prompting England international Dean Henderson to receive a run on the flank.
But Solskjaer backed the Spaniard to recover.
“I think David is a great goalkeeper,” Solskjaer said. “Of course he is, and he is rightly on the lists of being the best goalkeeper in Europe.
“To me, he’s handled criticism before, he’s handled setbacks before and he’s a boy, or a man, that we really trust.”
Solskjaer said Anthony Martial was available after missing the Leipzig match, but had yet to make a decision on his teammate, forward Edinson Cavani, who was also absent.
jw / kca / dmc
