MANCHESTER (AFP) - Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes the privilege of playing for Manchester United should be about the "survival of the fittest" as he deals with a mounting injury crisis.
Solskjaer had to make three first-half substitutions during Sunday's (Feb 24) 0-0 draw with Liverpool as Ander Herrera, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard all hobbled off injured.
The Norwegian could be without 10 players in total for Wednesday's trip to Crystal Palace and acknowledged that at least some of the muscle problems suffered by his squad may be a result of the rising physical demands he is placing on them.
United's running statistics have increased significantly since Solskjaer replaced Jose Mourinho in December.
That has been a factor in a huge upturn in results, with 14 matches under Solskjaer bringing 11 wins and just one defeat.
"It's probably linked, yes," said Solskjaer. "But when do you make that change? Do you wait until pre-season and think you will change results by just not asking them to run?
"Or do we start now and show them demands of intensity and how we want to play?"
The caretaker manager has made a point of getting United to play the fast-paced attacking game for which they were renowned during much of Alex Ferguson's 26½ years in charge at Old Trafford.
"You have seen what I have chosen," he added. "We need to play as a Manchester United team. If you want to be a part of Manchester United, it's a survival of the fittest isn't it?"
Solskjaer acknowledged that the physical demands of a hard-running style may take its toll on some of the more experienced members of his squad.
But he stressed the importance of professionalism off the pitch, saying his players could prolong their careers.
Â
Â
"They are getting older aren't they, Juan, Nemanja (Matic), Ander. So it's about the preparation, the standards that you have to live up to on and off the pitch as a Manchester United player, and as a professional player in the Premier League.
"It's not just turning up, playing and training and then going home and doing all these little out-of-football activities that we have all seen too many players doing.
"I'm pleased with the way my lads have responded in that way, that we don't see too much of them outside football.
"That was a big part of my career - as long as you are a footballer and you play in the Premier League, make the most of it because suddenly you get these injuries and you are done."
Solskjaer, meanwhile, is confident that Romelu Lukaku will get himself into the right shape to rediscover his best form.
The striker, who has gone 10 games without scoring, admitted in December that the muscle mass he put on to help Belgium finish third at last year's World Cup has hampered his form at club level.
"I can understand why, when you go to a World Cup and see the teams you play, the physicality might take over in terms of your preparation.
"We ask our forwards to work at a higher intensity, to run in behind, but that's what he likes, so I'm sure he'll be fine.
"Muscle is not so difficult to get rid of. He's lean, but he's muscly. We'll get him in the box and scoring us goals, that'll be his job."
ZAGREB, March 21 (Reuters) - Croatia were forced to dig deep as they came from behind to beat unfancied Azerbaijan 2-1 at home in their opening Euro 2020 Group E qualifier after forward Andrej Kramaric scored a 79th winner on Thursday. In the group's other fixture, Slovakia eased to a 2-0 home win
Football: Kramaric nets late winner as Croatia beat
Football: AC Milan may be banned from Europe as Uefa orders another Financial Fair Play probe. AC Milan is one of several clubs to have been investigated for breaching Uefa's rules, whereby clubs
AC Milan risk European ban as UEFA orders another Financial
PARIS (REUTERS) - A rampant France smashed South Korea out of sight on Friday (June 7) to open their women's soccer World Cup campaign in irrepressible style with a 4-0 victory that sent a warning
France make light work of South Korea in World Cup opener
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's instant impact as Manchester United interim manager continued in his first home game in charge as two goals from Paul Pogba helped his team secure a 3-1 win over Huddersfield. After a resounding 5-1 victory at Cardiff, in his first game since replacing Jose Mourinho at the weekend, Solskjaer saw his team […]
Premier League: Pogba strikes twice as Man Utd win on
Rangers crashed out of the Europa League on Thursday after falling 1-0 at Rapid Vienna, while crowd trouble sparked by Eintracht Frankfurt fans marred the German side's win at Lazio. Steven
Rangers out of Europa League, Eintracht fans run riot at Lazio
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Angers v Paris St Germain - Stade Raymond Kopa, Angers, France - May 11, 2019 Paris St Germain's Neymar during the match REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/File Photo SAO PAULO (Reuters) - A woman has accused Brazil soccer star Neymar of raping her in Paris, according to a Sao Paulo […]
Neymar accused of committing rape in Paris - police report
Football: Juve foiled by Gervinho brace after leading 3-1 making him Serie A's leading scorer with 17 goals, to put Juve in command but a brilliant flicked goal by Gervinho followed by a
Juve foiled by Gervinho brace after leading 3-1 | Free
Egyptian soccer superstar Mohamed Salah has called on men in his country and across the Muslim world to treat women with more respect. In an interview with TIME, the Liverpool striker spoke
Salah calls for change in treatment of women in Muslim world
La Liga: Gareth Bale 'nowhere near' being Real Madrid's leader, says Predrag Mijatovic Description: Gareth Bale, who has scored only four goals in the league this season, has been injured over 20 times since his 105 million euro signing from Tottenham Hotspur in 2013.
Bale "nowhere near" being Madrid's leader, says Mijatovic
Phil Neville says England Women need to be ruthless. By Adam Goodwin White finish put the Lionesses 2-0 up in a first half they controlled, before their levels dropped and Scotland pulled one
Phil Neville: England boss to be 'ruthless' when picking
A friend online yesterday said I must be body weary but soul happy. I couldn't have said it better myself. After 9 miles and 4000 feet of elevation gain/loss in 6 hours, I was certainly body weary. But I had spent an amazing day among the pine and manzanita, above the clouds in the sunshine. … More Galleries of WEARY FEET…..HAPPY SOUL
Ghost Ship trial: A weary dad sits in court every day
Captain Tim Paine expressed his relief after Australia beat India in the second Test to level the series at 1-1. Having lost in Adelaide, the Baggy Greens hit back in Perth to record a 146-run triumph and ensure there is everything to play for when the battle is resumed in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne.
Post-scandal Australia 'grit' hailed after 'best win' for
The £3.5million Spurs paid Burnley for Kieran Trippier back in 2015 has proved to be an absolute steal. While the 28-year-old had to initially bide his time on the sidelines following his move to White Hart Lane, Trippier is now first choice for club and country.
0 comments:
Post a Comment