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Ole Gunnar Solskjær has really gotten worse at Manchester United. So much so that Jürgen Klopp goes to the trouble of sending shots in the direction of the Norwegian.
After a difficult start to the season, Ole Gunnar Solskjær and his Manchester United have become involved in the battle for the league title in the Premier League.
At the moment, both United and Liverpool have 33 points, and Manchester United have played one game less.
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Klopp and Solskjær in a war of words
United’s progress has also breathed new life into the rivalry between the two clubs. We have further proof of this when Jürgen Klopp resumed the number of penalties Manchester United have conceded in the last two seasons, following the defeat of Southampton on Monday.
– I recently heard that Manchester United have received more penalties in the two years that Ole has been here, than Liverpool in my five and a half years. I don’t know if it’s my fault or what it is, said an annoyed Klopp, who thought Sadio Mané should have received at least one penalty in the Southampton encounter.
In a press conference ahead of Wednesday’s league cup meeting with Manchester City, Solskjær suggests this may be an attempt to influence Klopp’s referees.
– I can’t speak for other coaches and say something about why they say what they do, but I feel like it worked in the FA Cup final last year, when Frank (Lampard) spoke about it beforehand. We were fooled by a clear penalty that we should have, so maybe it’s about swaying the judges.
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After looking at Sky Sports statistics on the number of touches in the opponent’s penalty area, compared to the number of penalty kicks awarded in the last two seasons, TV 2 soccer commentator Øyvind Alsaker believes that Klopp is in something.
Alsaker: – Absolutely crazy.
Statistics show that Manchester United, since the beginning of last season, have had 1,364 touches of the ball inside the rival area and have received 20 penalty kicks. Liverpool have only received ten penalty kicks, with 1859 touches of the ball in the rival area.
– You have a point when it comes to United penalties. This has Sky Sports down to the smallest detail. If you look at it from the beginning of last season, the numbers are absolutely insane, Alsaker tells Nettavisen.
However, the TV 2 commentator believes United should use Klopp’s statements as internal motivation.
– If he had been a Manchester United player, he would have used it in the dressing room, that Jürgen Klopp, who has been completely inaccessible, is now about to be overtaken. He’s a winner and now he sees that the team is in trouble and that United and City are the two main rivals. It bothers him, of course. There is enormous pressure in that job there, so it gets out of hand for each and everyone, says Alsaker.
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Don’t think Solskjær thrives as well as Ferguson
Although Solskjær and Klopp now wage a war of words reminiscent of Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger in the 1990s, Alsaker isn’t sure if Solskjær enjoys as much as the professor.
– Solskjær has learned from the best when it comes to mental warfare, but he is not the same type. I don’t think I thrive on it as much as Ferguson did, Alsaker thinks.
Last fall, Solskjær had to answer questions about his own future at United:
The TV 2 profile now has Manchester United as the favorite to take home the league gold, and he’s impressed but not surprised by what he’s seen in recent months.
– For me, it’s a natural development for this Manchester United team. Solskjær has been successful with the signings and does not have a buying boom. This makes the stable extremely strong. They have double coverage and can almost field two equally good teams, with a few exceptions in places.
He thinks United are benefiting from a special season
However, he is aware that the reality would likely be completely different without injury issues at Liverpool and Manchester City.
– United have benefited from the fact that this season has been very special. A Premier League champion this year can win by 80 points. This means that the points with which Solskjær had to improve the team did not exceed 30, as they would have been if Liverpool were injury free and if City had not had all these problems. Now they have the opportunity because the best teams have problems, while Solskjær has managed to lift his team, Alsaker believes.
On Wednesday night Ole Gunnar Solskjær can qualify for his first final as Manchester United manager, when Manchester City are the rivals in the league cup final.
Contrary to what the bookmakers say, Alsaker United is the favorite before the Manchester derby.
– I consider United to be the favorite for tricks, and that is because City is missing a lot of people and has many problems. That said, the match they delivered against Chelsea was quite powerful. If they have the strength, of course they can bite. It is a trophy that they have won three years in a row and they would like to do it again.
The winner faces José Mourinho and Tottenham in the final, and Øyvind Alsaker believes that a title can take Ole Gunnar Solskjær to new heights.
– If they lift you a trophy, then bring out that image of yourself as a winner, and it can be a great season.
The match between Manchester United and Manchester City starts at 8:45 p.m. and can be seen on Viasat 4 from 8:45 p.m.
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