Manchester United boss Solskjaer answers Sir Alex Ferguson question ahead of Burnley clash
Man Utd: Solskjaer reveals clean bill of health
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has played down the significance of his side’s Premier League clash with Burnley on Tuesday night. Victory for the Red Devils at Old Trafford would see them rise above Liverpool to sit top of the table. The Norwegian is looking to succeed where the likes of Jose Mourinho, Louis van Gaal and David Moyes by winning the club a first league title since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013.
United have struggled in the cups this season, being eliminated from the Champions League and Carabao Cup by RB Leipzig and Manchester City respectively.
But they’ve been better in the Premier League, winning eight of their last 10 matches in the competition.
Victory for United against Burnley on Tuesday would see them leapfrog Liverpool at the top of the table – something that seemed unfeasible at the beginning of the campaign.
But, when asked if it was the biggest week for United of the post-Ferguson era, Solskjaer played things down.
“I think it’s great that our fans are excited and that they’re happy with where we’re at, and that we have this little sense of excitement,” he said.
THINK YOU KNOW SPORT? Test your sporting knowledge with our tricky quiz
“But we’re not even halfway through the season, so every game against Burnley, or every game against Liverpool, matters a lot anyway.
“For me, all my eyes are on Tuesday and let’s see where we’re at after that one.”
Solskjaer is happy with his side’s momentum, adding: “We’ve had good momentum.
“We started well again after the disappointment against City. [We] bounced back really well with a win and, of course, we want to build momentum again if we can get a win on Tuesday then if you can win two games in a row, you go into the next game confident.
“Every game in the Premier League is a chance to build some more confidence.”
DON’T MISS
Man Utd standing on Jadon Sancho transfer emerges ahead of January window
Man Utd transfer blow as Liverpool change Jadon Sancho stance
Man Utd set to offload player no longer wanted by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with loan eyed
Another person not getting ahead of themselves is Rio Ferdinand.
The United legend knows what it’s like to win the title, having helped the Red Devils scoop the prize on six occasions during his time at the Theatre of Dreams.
But Ferdinand doesn’t want to jinx anything, saying: “I don’t want to jump the gun like I’ve done before.
“I don’t want to become a meme again. But listen, as a football fan, you can’t help it – it’s part of it to get hyped up, become emotional about things.
“And Man United sitting pretty at the top of the league after the game against Burnley – we hope – I’ll be excited 100 per cent.
“But then it’s a massive game after that against Liverpool to really put a marker down and say actually we’re not just here fly-bys, we’re here to stay.”
United have struggled against Burnley in recent years.
They lost 2-0 in the same fixture last season, on a night where fans turned on the Glazers and Ed Woodward.
But, since signing Bruno Fernandes in the aftermath of that result, United have been resurgent.
And victories over Burnley, and then Liverpool on Sunday, would certainly make the rest of the Premier League stand up and take note.
“But then it’s a massive game after that against Liverpool to really put a marker down and say actually we’re not just here fly-bys, we’re here to stay.”
United have struggled against Burnley in recent years.
They lost 2-0 in the same fixture last season, on a night where fans turned on the Glazers and Ed Woodward.
But, since signing Bruno Fernandes in the aftermath of that result, United have been resurgent.
And victories over Burnley, and then Liverpool on Sunday, would certainly make the rest of the Premier League stand up and take note.
Source: Read Full Article