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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer defended Aaron Wan-Bissaka after Joe Cole said he was ‘yelling’ at the defender during Manchester United’s 3-2 win over Brighton.
Wan-Bissaka had a torrid moment throughout for the Seagulls’ Solly March, who hit the post at one point before scoring a late tie that appeared to have saved a tie at the Amex.
March made it 2-2 in the fourth minute of added time, eluding the visiting defense to head into the back post after United’s cross from the left.
It would have been a deserved point for Graham Potter’s team, but it wasn’t when Bruno Fernandes shot home a last-gasp penalty after Neal Maupay was judged to have made the ball.
BT Sport insider Cole criticized Wan-Bissaka’s defensive work after the game, saying he was “caught three or four” times when Brighton failed to take advantage of a number of opportunities.
(Image: POOL / AFP via Getty Images)
But United manager Solskjaer jumped to the defense of his right back, asking his players to defend from the front and offer more protection.
“We have the form of our team and we don’t save enough crosses on that left side and allow too many crosses,” Solskjaer said in his post-match press conference.
“It’s also because of the team’s shape here and the sharpness. For me, we have to work harder from the front to stop the crossovers or from the sides.”
Solskjaer said Wan-Bissaka is working to defend backpost crossings from the guy who led March’s leveler, insisting one of the 22-year-old’s strengths is his willingness to learn.
(Image: Getty Images)
“Aaron is getting better as a defender, he’s one of the best one-on-one, he’s practicing stick defense and he’s a pleasure to work with.”
Solskjaer added: “He wants to learn in order to improve. Of course, the possibility that towards the end he needs the help of other players at the back stick.
“Every player in this league has strengths and weaknesses and we all know Aaron’s strengths. But one of his strengths is that he wants to learn and he wants to improve.”
United will face Brighton again at the Amex in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup clash, and Cole said Wan-Bissaka and his teammates will have to improve their defense.
(Image: Getty Images)
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“Solly March found himself in this position on numerous occasions,” said the former Chelsea and England midfielder.
“I’m here and I was yelling at Wan-Bissaka: ‘Look over your shoulder, look over your shoulder!’ I had a warning.
“One of the things we caught 20 minutes before it happened was Wan-Bissaka’s body shape in that situation … he was caught three or four times.
“At this level, you don’t have a chance to receive a warning so many times.
“They deserved at least one point from this game, Brighton, and you feel sorry for them.”
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