After the humiliating loss to Liverpool, Manchester United have three more fixtures before the international break, and for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer it will be about trying to make it to the other side.
“We have to look forward,” says Solskjaer, who unsurprisingly does not want to reflect too much on that 5-0 scoreline, their biggest home defeat ever in this storied fixture.
“Next it is Tottenham away, then Atalanta in the Champions League, and the next team who visit us is Man City. We have to sort the frame of minds out.”
In the absence of a midweek match, with United exiting the Carabao Cup last month, Solskjaer can focus unblinkingly on their Premier League trip to Spurs on Saturday, providing he is kept on by United’s owners and is able to ignore the outside noise calling for his departure.
That will be tough after suffering what he called his “darkest day” at the United helm, but the Norwegian has overcome obstacles before and will be hoping he gets the chance to navigate his side through this one as well.
“Manchester United have had tough times, difficult times before and they have always bounced back and taken on challenges,” he added. “We’ve come too far as a group and we’re too close to give up now.”
It could well prove an insurmountable challenge, but in his desire to look forward Solskjaer will have no choice but to look back and re-watch Sunday’s game, pinpointing the many occasions where his side were out of position or indeed out of line – with Paul Pogba’s red card just one instance where a United player could have been sent off.
Discipline must improve, so too communication and, quite simply, teamwork, and though time may be running out for Solskjaer to prove he is the manager capable of overseeing such necessary changes, results will be main factor.
And providing he survives the week it will be all eyes on Saturday and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Man Utd’s next three fixtures
- Saturday 30 October, 5.30pm – Tottenham (A) – Premier League
- Tuesday 2 November, 8pm – Atalanta (A) – Champions League
- Saturday 6 November, 12.30pm – Man City (H) – Premier League
In Spurs, United face a side one place and point above them in the table, with Nuno Espirito Santo’s team struggling for goals this term and hitting a stumbling block of their own when losing at West Ham on Sunday.
It is one of those dare-not-lose meetings for both managers, with United and Spurs already off the pace in the title race, and in what could be a mighty scrap for fourth this season, points succumbed to fellow Champions League seekers will likely prove costly come May.
After Spurs, there are just three days until United face Atalanta in Italy, a typically short turnaround for sides in Europe and one that could therefore work to Solskjaer’s advantage win, lose or draw on Saturday.
There has not been a dull night for United in the Champions League so far this season, with a defeat at Young Boys followed by comeback wins over Villarreal and then Atalanta. Heading into the second half of Group F, a point in the reverse fixture against Atalanta may not harm Solskjaer’s position, but a drama-free victory that takes them a step closer to the knockout stages is surely the order of the day here.
Then comes Manchester City, if indeed – once again – Solskjaer makes it this far. Pep Guardiola’s side have scored nine goals on the road in their last two games, and are averaging four goals per match at home already this season.
A Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium therefore has the makings of a one-sided affair, going by current momentum, but remarkably Solskjaer has never lost at City as United manager, and he will be eager to stay and make it four in a row on 6 November.
Man Utd’s derby record under Solskjaer
Wins: 4, draws: 1, losses: 3, goals for: 8, goals against: 8
- 7 March 2021: City 0-2 Utd (Premier League)
- 6 January 2021: Utd 0-2 City (Carabao Cup)
- 12 December 2020: Utd 0-0 City (Premier League)
- 8 March 2020: Utd 2-0 City (Premier League)
- 29 January 2020: City 0-1 Utd (Carabao Cup semi-final second leg)
- 7 January 2020: Utd 1-3 City (Carabao Cup semi-final first leg)
- 7 December 2019: City 1-2 Utd (Premier League)
- 24 April 2019: Utd 0-2 City (Premier League)
No United manager before him was able to win their first three matches at City, and it is arguably the defining match for Solskjaer in this upcoming run given it falls just before an international break where the hierarchy at Old Trafford could be pondering their options.
A couple of wins, particularly one against City, will have Solskjaer resting a little easier during this time. Lose all three, however, and he may not be there to welcome his players upon their return.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3mbUCLG
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