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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Manchester United will not “press the panic button” just because they were eliminated from the Champions League.
A 3-2 loss at RB Leipzig on Tuesday extended United’s recent poor record in the competition.
It also raised more questions about Solskjaer’s ability to bring out the best in his team.
United sources have continued to insist that the club fully supports their coach and that the path forward is strong.
But it is not a message that has gone down well with some fans, who feel that a change is required.
United’s hierarchy rejects that vision entirely and the message of stability was reinforced by Solskjaer as he looked towards an Old Trafford. meeting with Manchester City on Saturday.
“It is important not to press the panic button all the time because in football you cannot win every game,” he said.
“There are games that you lose that hurt more than others and some losses have more consequences than others.
“We have handled the setbacks quite well and the reality is that we are out of the Champions League for the rest of the season. We have to move on and come back.”
Anthony Martial will return to the United squad after missing the trip to Germany due to injury, although fellow forward Edinson Cavani remains a doubt.
Solskjaer also supported goalkeeper David de Gea, who was criticized by former United midfielder Paul Scholes for his role in RB Leipzig’s decisive third goal on Tuesday.
And the United manager avoided answering a question about Paul Pogba, whose agent Mino Raiola said The French midfielder wants to leave the club in an interview published on the eve of the Leipzig defeat.
“I talk to my players every day and Paul Pogba is no different,” Solskjaer said when asked if the paid player had spoken after leaving the Champions League.
“Anything that anyone’s representatives say cannot affect me. I’ve said everything I want to do about it.”
Solskjaer is ‘strong enough’ – Guardiola
Manchester United won three of the four meetings between the two teams last season, including a Premier League double over their neighbors for the first time in a decade.
But City manager Pep Guardiola insists the result of Saturday’s game would not define the season for either club.
“It’s not a knockout game, it’s three more points,” he said. “That is important, of course, for the quality of the opponent, but there are many games to come and we will try to win our games.”
Guardiola also expects his counterpart to handle the scrutiny.
He added: “I don’t have to support him because he is strong enough and he knows how this job works. [People say] when we win we are a genius and when we lose we have to be fired.
“It happens at United and around the world, it’s a reality.”
December 19 will be two years since Solskjaer replaced José Mourinho as coach.
Although there are many observers who say they still do not see a coherent plan from a team that has fallen behind in eight of 10 Premier League games this season, the Norwegian disagrees.
“I feel like we’re getting better and better and looking more like the Manchester United team that I love,” he said.
“We have fast and dynamic attackers and good players with individual qualities. Everyone says we don’t have consistency, but we have won the last four in the league so hopefully we can move on.”
