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Just three weeks after a rather humiliating withdrawal from Leipzig, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has every reason to enter the new year feeling optimistic about his Manchester United side.
Serious questions were asked of Solskjaer after United were sent off from the Champions League in Germany. How much progress have you made at Old Trafford? Is he the right man to move the club forward after two years without leading trophies?
On Friday night, United will face Aston Villa in search of the victory that would lead them to the top of the Premier League alongside Liverpool.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United is just one win away from the top of the Premier League
Marcus Rashford’s latest win against Wolves increased the wellbeing factor at United
Solskjaer’s star rises again and Mauricio Pochettino’s shadow will disappear at any moment if the return of the former Tottenham manager to the bench with Paris Saint-Germain is confirmed.
The United manager has been reluctant to discuss the title race at this stage of the season.
It’s still the first days and you know how quickly luck can change, especially in a table where only 10 points separate the top 11 teams.
But Solskjaer said last month that he would know a lot more about United’s prospects after a packed Christmas program of six games in 16 days, and the response from his players has been quite emphatic.
A streak of five games, four wins and a draw speaks for itself. Perhaps more importantly, you can finally see a change of mind after two years at the helm and the arrival of influential characters like Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire.
Solskjaer says Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire helped change United’s mindset
Questions were raised after their elimination from the Champions League, but United bounced back
“Definitely,” Solskjaer said. One, they are two years older than when I came. Two, some of them are really strong personalities that we’ve brought in and they’ve been a really good influence.
“We have competition for places, which means you can’t go around and think that you can pretend to be part of this team. You only deserve to be on a team that you contribute to.
“Everyone has realized that they have the privilege of being part of such a fantastic club with a fantastic history. When you are here, enjoy it as much as you can and maybe you will experience some fantastic moments. ”
Solskjaer did just that with Sir Alex Ferguson, whose 79th birthday coincided Thursday with the death of former United manager Tommy Docherty, 92.
The late goals were a hallmark of Ferguson’s teams and Solskjaer was encouraged by the way Marcus Rashford won stoppage time against the Wolves on Tuesday night.
“The belief is that we don’t have to press the panic button,” he added.
“We are getting more and more used to the way we want to play and we know that we have players who can win games in a second. An incredible pass or dribble, some skill.
“We have to know that many games are decided towards the end. It’s very rare that you can blow up teams and win at half time. Then the subs will appear and make a difference. That has happened to us so many times. ‘
The rotation of a strong team was another key factor in Ferguson’s success and there is no doubt that United’s strength in depth has helped them cope with the congested roster of games.
“I remember the times you feel like you deserve to play and you stay out,” Solskjaer recalled.
Solskjaer is satisfied with the confidence in his team and says it is difficult to leave out key players
“That’s part of being at Manchester United, you have the best players everywhere. We know that throughout the season if you are going to win something you have to contribute.
“The players will have to be mad at me until the next time they play because they are not happy when I tell them to start on the bench.
‘We have a strong squad and we have rotated a lot. We haven’t really called it an established XI because I don’t think this season is going to be about that anyway. It’s going to be about the team.
Fernandes insists now is the time for United to start winning titles on a regular basis
‘Towards the end of the season, that will help us. Injuries and suspensions will occur, so our team is able to be prepared for every game.
They are horses for courses. You think that some players are better suited for some teams, but of course you plan ahead.
Fernandes has played an important role in United’s progress, becoming the heart of this team.
However, having lost three semi-finals in his first season, the Portuguese midfielder insists United must start delivering the cutlery.
“The main thing I want, which I haven’t achieved so far, is the trophies,” he said. ‘That’s clear. We can really do that in 2021. ‘
