[ad_1]
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer praised Manchester United’s Eric Bailly and says the defender puts everything on the line for his teammates.
Bailly has struggled to get consistent playing time for United in recent years, but Solskjaer brought Bailly back to the team in the Carabao Cup against Everton. And the former Villarreal has remained in the team playing his fourth consecutive game in the 2-1 win over Aston Villa on Friday.
The 26-year-old has forged a good rapport with Harry Maguire and his late blocking to prevent substitute Keinan Davis from drawing was met with scandalous celebrations at full time.
“You can see today his physique, his pace and his courage is second to none,” said Solskjaer. “He has a style of play that has caused him to injure himself a couple of times and probably the muscle fibers have also caused him some injuries.
“You can see how much it means to him, but also to the rest of the guys at the end of the game. Because he is a very loved player and a man in the locker room.
“Everyone wants him to do well and they know the difficulties he has had and we are delighted for him.”
Solskjaer was delighted with Manchester United’s winning start to 2021 but knows there is a lot of work to be done after leveling the points with Premier League leaders Liverpool.
The Red Devils, in second place, had eight wins in 10 unbeaten games in the top flight on New Year’s Day.
Anthony Martial’s first goal was canceled by a Bertrand Traore effort in the second half at an empty Old Trafford, where Bruno Fernandes’ penalty sealed a close 2-1 victory against Dean Smith’s impressive side.
Solskjaer’s men join Liverpool with 33 points as a result of a victory that increases rumors of a title challenge.
“Of course we are very happy with the position we are in,” said the United manager.
“It’s a big difference if you look back 12 months. If you miss a chance to be there or so in the first 10 games, you may lose your chance to be in a title race.
“For us now, it’s a good position to be in, but we have to improve, we have to improve. There will be a lot of tight matches, but if you can win matches like tonight, that will make a big difference. “
There were plenty of shots at Old Trafford where David De Gea made a good save from Matty Cash in stoppage time before a key challenge from Eric Bailly thwarted substitute Keinan Davis.
“Of course, we knew how difficult it was going to be and we had to play well,” Solskjaer said.
Solskjaer keeping his feet on the ground
“We needed some margins towards the end. It shouldn’t have been like that. We should have scored because we created some opportunities, especially in the second half, some counterattacks and we had the opportunity to be more clinical and finish the game.
“Then towards the end David makes a good save, Eric makes a fantastic block and we saw it one way or another.
“Sometimes you have to find a way to win. We could have handled the game better in the last 10 minutes, but we got through it. “
Villa pushed to death in an entertaining encounter from start to finish, but left Old Trafford senseless.
“He was very disappointed with our performance in the first half,” coach Dean Smith said.
“I didn’t think we were anywhere near the levels we’ve been. Both teams started very slowly: the first 10 minutes almost had a testimony feeling about it.
“They injected them with the tempo they needed and they deservedly went ahead and entered the break with a goal in favor.
“I had to get them together at halftime and talk to them about the levels we had to be at and I thought the second half was much better than us.
“Good goal, it also created some really good chances, but unfortunately we lost on a dubious penalty.”
Douglas Luiz’s challenge to Paul Pogba led to Fernandes’ penalty to win the match and Smith couldn’t understand why the video assistant referee did not send referee Michael Oliver to watch a replay.
Smith doubts the VAR
“I have sympathy for Michael,” Villa’s boss said. “From where I was standing, it looked like a penalty.
“I thought Douglas Luiz was too tight with Paul Pogba and it seemed that as he turned he was knocking him down.
“I felt like it was a penalty at the time and I could see why the referee certainly did too. But then go into the locker room and see him again, very, very doubtful. It seems to me that he stumbles. There is very, very minimal contact.
“If that’s the case, if there is so much doubt, then the idea of the VAR is to send the referee there to look at it himself, so a little dumbfounded why they didn’t send him to see it. . “
READ MORE: Ole delighted with the leader of Utd
[ad_2]
